Photo: West Point Thoroughbreds
Although In Harm’s Way
is a New York-bred, trainer Michael Hushion has no reservations when it comes
to running the 2-year-old colt against open company in the Grade 2, $200,000
Saratoga Special on August 12 instead of awaiting stakes restricted to
state-breds.
“That’s why we’re in this game, to have a good horse
and to try to have big horses,” said Hushion. “Becky Thomas [of
Sequel Stallions] had this horse in Ocala,
and she told me this horse can do good things.”
Bettors also have respected In Harm’s Way from the get-go, backing
him at 8-5 when he was fourth in his debut on June 28 and at 3-2 when he broke
his maiden by 4 ¾ lengths on July 15. Both starts came at Belmont Park
going 5 ½ furlongs against New York-breds.
On July 30, In Harm’s Way, a Chester
and Mary Broman homebred, breezed four furlongs in 50.03 seconds on the Saratoga main track with
Hall of Famer Edgar Prado in the irons.
“Edgar worked him the other day, and the work went great,”
said Hushion. “He’ll work him one more time. It won’t be
anything special. We won’t worry about his condition.”
The Saratoga Special will be In Harm’s Way’s first start at
6 ½ furlongs.
“His gallop out was big the day he won, so it’s not like 6
½ is going to bother him,” said Hushion. “I think 6 ½ is an edge
for us.”