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.