Suburban Top Three in Good Shape
Grade 2 Suburban Handicap winner Haynesfield, who was the lone New York-bred in the race, came out of Saturday’s 1 1/8th mile effort in good order, said Toby Sheets, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen.
“He came out of the race well,” said Sheets of Turtle Bird Stable’s 4-year-old, whose 2¾-length win was his fourth straight, lifting his record to 8-1-1 from 11 starts.
While there are a myriad of options for the son of Speightstown, who has won two graded stakes in addition to the 2009 Empire Classic and the 2008 Damon Runyon for state-breds, Sheets said that there had been no discussions as to his next start.
“We’ll wait until he comes back and breezes, and then begin talking about it,” he said.
Suburban runner-up Convocation, who closed from sixth after lunging at the break, also exited the race in good shape, and trainer Jimmy Jerkens is mulling a number of possibilities for the 4-year-old son of Pulpit.
The colt has been competitive in graded events previously, finishing second in the Grade 2 Dwyer as a 3-year-old and in the Grade 3 Westchester Handicap earlier this season, and most recently finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Met Mile behind Quality Road, the top older male in training.
“He ran well, although I don’t know why he breaks like that,” said Jerkens. “I think he could have been closer to the pace. I’m not sure if he’s ready for the Whitney [Grade 1, August 7, Saratoga]. I might try him on the grass – he’s got the breeding for it.”
Owned by Centennial Farms, Convocation is by Pulpit out of the Nureyev mare Shade Dance, an unraced half-sister to 2001 juvenile filly champion Tempera.
Third-place finisher I Want Revenge, for whom the Suburban was the first start following a nearly 15-month layoff, was also reported to have come out of the race in good order.
“He’s doing well,” said Michelle Nevin, assistant to trainer Rick Dutrow.