Alex M. Robb might be the spot to send it in on Send It In

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Send It In began 2016 like he was going to be a stakes horse. On Saturday, Send It In hopes to finally fulfill that promise when he makes his stakes debut in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb for New York-breds at Aqueduct.

Send It In is one of seven older New York-bred males entered in the Robb, to be contested at 1 1/16 miles over the inner track.

Last winter, Send It In won three races over the inner track as part of a four-race winning streak that began over the outer track on Dec. 5, 2015. Following a dominant win against open-company, second-level allowance foes in March, Send It In was pointing to the Excelsior in April when he was sidelined due to unspecified physical issues.

Send It In, a gelding by Big Brown owned by Paul Pompa Jr., returned to the races on Dec. 9 and was beaten a neck by Doyouknowsomething on a day when inside speed was very good and Send It In was chasing three wide. Still, Send It In ran a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, the second-best number of his career.

“We didn’t think we’d have to run that to win the race,” said Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher.

Send It In is coming back in 22 days, but he has run well before off a similar turnaround. Last October at Belmont, he won a starter allowance by 4 3/4 lengths 21 days after finishing third in a similar spot.

Send It In has shown versatility in his running style, winning from off the pace and on the lead. There appears to be ample speed in this field with Wake Up in Malibu, Becker’s Galaxy, and Iron Power.

“I think he’s best when he’s close; right off the pace is ideal,” Hughes said. “He doesn’t have the initial speed, but he seems to fire at the end.”

The field includes Empire Dreams and Good Luck Gus, who finished first and third in last year’s Alex Robb. Iron Power returns to the dirt for the first time since October 2014. He is 2 for 3 over the inner track, including a maiden win four years ago.

Testosterstone, a troubled second last out, was supplemented to this race.

KEY CONTENDERS

Send It In, by Big Brown

Last 3 Beyers: 102-104-85

◗ At one time destined for the claim box, Send It In turned things around last fall and has five wins and two narrow losses in his last seven starts.

DRF FORMULATOR fact: Pletcher is only 1 or 12 over the last five years with horses running in non-graded stakes over the inner track second off a layoff.

Good Luck Gus, by Lookin At Lucky

Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-83

◗ Though a bit off form, he has run extremely well over the inner track, winning stakes at 2 and earlier this year over this surface.

Empire Dreams, by Patriot Act

Last 3 Beyers: 79-90-83

◗ Won this race last year while stretching out from a narrow third-place finish in a seven-furlong Stallion Series race. Comes off a fourth-place finish in the same Stallion Series race but was beaten only a neck and a nose for second behind runaway winner Loki’s Vengeance.

Wake Up in Malibu, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 53-102-86

◗ Comes off a last-place finish in the Empire Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race run just two weeks after he posted a career-best Beyer of 102 in winning a stakes-caliber allowance.