Can Sir Bond make it four straight?

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sir Bond has undergone quite the transformation in the last few months, going from low-level claimer to potential stakes horse. Sunday, he’ll seek his fourth consecutive victory in a $69,000 second-level optional-claiming race at Aqueduct.

Claimed for $20,000 by My Purple Haze Stables and trainer Chris Englehart in September, Sir Bond has won three of five starts since then, including his last three. On Jan. 15, Sir Bond won a starter allowance by 3 3/4 lengths, covering six furlongs in 1:09.65 and earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. He has not raced since.

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“He’s got a little bit of issues that aren’t bothering him right now,” Englehart said. “He didn’t come out of his last race real good. I gave him some extra time; he’s doing real good again. I don’t expect him to run a number like he ran last time. If he runs in the 90s maybe he’d be good enough to win that race.”

Englehart is hoping to use this race as stepping-stone to the $70,000 Peeping Tom, one of the stakes being offered on March 21 as part of New York’s inaugural claiming championships.

Sir Bond figures to be forwardly placed under C.C. Lopez in a 10-horse field that has plenty of early speed types, including Regulus and Loki’s Vengeance.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sir Bond (Last 3 Beyers: 100-92-81)

◗ Sir Bond’s three-race winning streak has come since Englehart equipped the gelding by Street Sense with blinkers.

“I put blinkers on him … because it looked like he was hanging a little bit and this probably helped him some,” Englehart said. “I love the way he finishes. Since I put the blinkers on him he just finishes strong every time.”

◗ Sir Bond breaks from post nine in the 10-horse field, which may help Lopez evaluate the pace scenario.

Green Gratto (Last 3 Beyers: 90-95-90)

◗ He has lost 13 straight races since winning three consecutive races over the inner track last winter.

◗ He was beaten just a neck by Scarly Charly at this condition last out, in a race run over a sloppy track.

Doc Almon (Last 3 Beyers: 93-85-83)

◗ He is being offered for the $62,500 claiming price after being claimed for $25,000 by Rudy Rodriguez out of a win over the inner track.

Regulus (Last 3 Beyers: 89-77-89)

◗ He is another being sent out by Rodriguez for the $62,500 claiming tag. He won for $50,000 last out in his first start off the claim.

◗ He finished second to Sir Bond in Dec. 6 starter allowance race.