Belmont: Stacelita faces seven in Flower Bowl

The field for the Flower Bowl ballooned to eight horses but the one to beat remains Stacelita, the Beverly D. winner who drew the outside post for the 1 1/4-mile turf race on Saturday at Belmont Park.

BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE: Racing schedule, replays, and past winners >>

Stacelita was a Group 1 winner in France before coming to this country earlier this year. She finished third against males in the Grade 1 United Nations in July before rallying to win the Beverly D. under Ramon Dominguez by 1 1/4 lengths.

The field picked up Gitchee Goomie, the New York-bred filly who won the Yaddo Stakes in her last race. Though she ran that race with blinkers on, trainer Rick Violette will take them off for this race. Senada, third in the Glens Falls, in her last start was also a late entrant to the Flower Bowl field.

Others entered are Deluxe, Dynaslew, Emerald Beech, Aruna, and Distorted Legacy.

Haynesfield eyes late October return

Haynesfield, who upset Blame in last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup, could return to the races in late October, assistant trainer Toby Sheets said.

Among the races he is being considered for are the Empire Classic against New York-breds on Oct. 22 or the Bold Ruler Stakes, going seven furlongs on Oct. 29.

Haynesfield has only run twice this year, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Westchester in April and fifth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap in May. He has been plagued by foot issues that have interrupted his training, though on Tuesday he breezed six furlongs in 1:13.67 in company with stablemate Rule by Night.

“That was his second three-quarters,’’ Sheets said. “He’s doing well. He’s getting there.’’

◗ Gio Ponti worked five furlongs in 1:03.12 Wednesday morning over Belmont’s inner turf course. He is preparing for the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 8.