Six Kentucky Oaks hopefuls go in the Busher at Aqueduct on Saturday

By NY Hot List staff | Friday, March 3, 2023

The $200,000, one mile Busher Stakes features six 3-year-old fillies who will try and win the [50-20-15-10-5) qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks that are available to the top five finishers.

Trainer Chad Brown will sent out a pair of fillies as he tries to win the Busher for the second time. Peter Brant’s Shidabhuti is undefeated in two career starts. She won her debut at Monmouth Park in September and then returned in January to win an allowance race.

“She [looked impressive] and I expect her to take another step forward,” Brown said of her last effort.

Asset Performance from Klaravich Stables won her first race by eight-lengths in January at the Big A with a stalking trip.

“She certainly did [have something left]. Shidabhuti has a little more experience, but she’s improving and maturing, so I’m excited about that,” Brown said.

Shidabhuti and Asset Performance made their final workout before the Busher against each other.

“They both have always trained well, they just took a little while to come around,” said Brown, who sent out eventual Kentucky Oaks runner-up Search Results to a Busher win in 2021. “I’m looking forward to trying them in a stakes race for the first time. They worked in company and it was excellent. It was executed perfect and they’re ready to go.”

Here are the Hot List picks for the Busher:

The $200,000 Busher, Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 4.

(3) Ziaerati (A) was an easy winner of her debut race by almost 10 lengths beating a horse that came back to win her next start. Her winning speed figure was the highest of any horse in this field. (6) Asset Purchase won her first race by eight lengths at odds of 7-2 for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables. (2) Capella is unbeaten in two starts for Brad Cox in two races on the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park as the favorite both times. (5) Shidabhuti is also unbeaten in two starts with closing moves but she is from the connections of Chad Brown and Peter Brant.

The rest of the NY Hot List picks and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.