Hay Field gets her big chance in Broadway Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hay Field, a popular commodity at the claim box for the last nine months, will jump into stakes company in Saturday’s $100,000 Broadway Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct.

Starting last May, Hay Field has been claimed for $40,000 in six of her last seven starts, winning her last three straight. The only time Hay Field wasn’t claimed during that span came when she wasn’t eligible to be claimed in a starter-allowance race.

On Feb. 2, Hay Field was claimed by Antonio Arriaga on behalf of owners Brian and Kerry Novak. They claimed Hay Field from Linda Rice, who had already nominated the now 7-year-old mare to the Broadway for $100.

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Last Sunday, when entries were taken for the Broadway, Andrew Byrnes, the stakes coordinator for the New York Racing Association, informed Arriaga that Hay Field was nominated, so Arriaga entered her in the six-furlong race.

After looking at the competition, Arriaga said “she figures” in the six-horse field.

Last Nov. 7, when running for Robert Falcone Jr., Hay Field beat Cash Offer by one length. Cash Offer has since won two consecutive races, including the La Verdad Stakes, and could be favored in the Broadway.

Arriaga said he always liked Hay Field, but didn’t have a client that was willing to spend $40,000 to get her until the Novaks came along.

Falcone, who claimed filly last September but had her for only one start, said he has twice tried to reclaim Hay Field, but lost out on a shake each of the last two times she was taken.

“Going into the winter, it’s always a little easier competition,” Falcone said when asked what makes Hay Field so popular at the claim box. “She’s always been pretty honest.”

Hay Field has a record of 9-9-1 from 27 career starts.

Others who have claimed Hay Field recently include Linda Rice (twice), Jason Servis, and Rudy Rodriguez.

Arriaga said his biggest concern about Hay Field in the Broadway is that it will be just 13 days after her last race.

“That is the only concern, but she’s doing fine,” Arriaga said. “Even if you run second or third we’re okay with that.”

The remainder of the Broadway field is Out of Orbit, Bluegrass Jamboree, Kept True, and Stonesintheroad.