Surging to the
lead at the quarter pole, Goldsville held off a late run by Nite Light and stiff
resistance from front-runner Seniors Pride to win the 98
th running of
the Grade 3, $200,000 Excelsior on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Owned by Marc Ferrell and ridden
by New York’s leading jockey Ramon Dominguez, the 5-year-old son of Successful
Appeal completed the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up in 1:51.43. He paid
$5.10 to win as the 1.55-to-1 second choice.
Favored Nite Light finished
second, three quarters of a length back, followed by Seniors Pride, another neck
back.
Goldsville had been racing in
California
for trainer Peter Eurton when Ferrell sent him with several other horses to Mike
Hushion.
He is now 2-for-2 for Hushion.
In the Excelsior, Goldsville set
up in a stalking position behind Seniors Pride in the field of five and pressed
the pace through a half mile in 49.20 seconds and a mile in 1:38.07. He then
made a strong move turning for home as Nite Light, saving ground inside,
launched his attack on the rail.
“Getting a mile and an eighth for
the first time was a relief,” Hushion said after the race. “He held them safe. I
can’t say I wasn’t nervous. There’s a reason my teeth are half the size – from
grinding them down.”
Dominguez was impressed by
Goldsville’s versatility and tenacity.
“We were able to get in good
position with very comfortable fractions,” Dominguez said. “He was very tough
today, especially in the stretch. He really tried hard. This horse continues to
improve.”
Goldsville won for the fourth
time in 20 lifetime starts and increased his earnings to $275,440.