Huge rally carries Hog Creek Hustle to Woody Stephens S. (G1) victory

Overanalyze got his first Grade 1 winner on Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park when Hog Creek Hustle came from near the back of the pack to win the $400,000 Woody Stephens S. (G1) by a neck over Nitrous.

The victory was also the first graded win for the 3-year-old colt who most recently finished second in the Pat Day Mile (G3) and was also runner-up in the LeComte S. (G3) in January.

Overanalyze, who was the leading freshman sire of 2017 was also a top-10 Second-Crop sire last year and is among the Third-Crop leaders this term.

Devoid of early speed in the seven-furlong contest, Hog Creek Hustle had just Nitrous behind him as the field rolled through a half-mile in :44.53. With no option but to go wide with his rally, Hog Creek Hustle began picking off horses and was head-to-head for the lead in mid-stretch. Forging to the front shortly thereafter, he held off Nitrous to stop the timer in 1:21.12. 

“He didn’t have any speed,” Lanerie said. “I let him fall back and run his own race. When it was time to go I just went around everybody to where he could get some clean running room.” 

It was the winner’s victory in nine outings, increasing his earnings to $440,100 for Patty Tipton’s Something Special Racing. Hog Creek Hustle was bred in Kentucky by Hargus and Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, and was a $150,000 purchase at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.