Haynesfield draws rail in Whirlaway

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though he demonstrated the ability to come from off the pace in winning the Count Fleet Stakes last out, Haynesfield may be better served reverting to his front-running tactics when he heads a six-horse field entered for Saturday's $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct.

Haynesfield, winner of three consecutive races, drew the rail for the Whirlaway, which serves as a prep for the Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham Stakes here on March 7. Haynesfield, a New York-bred son of Speightstown, is one of just two stakes winners in the Whirlaway field. Peace Town, who won the Maryland Juvenile Championship, is the other.

Victories in the Damon Runyon and Count Fleet have established Haynesfield as the most accomplished 3-year-old on the grounds. In the Damon Runyon, when breaking from the rail, Haynesfield flashed good early speed and cruised to a 5o1/4-length victory. Initially, he was assigned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure which would have qualified as the highest two-turn figure given a 2-year-old in 2008. But that number has subsequently been downgraded to a 93.

Mark Hopkins, an associate of Andy Beyer who makes the speed figures for New York Racing Association tracks, said he adjusted the figure after Haynesfield and the three horses that finished behind him in the Damon Runyon ran "much worse" in their subsequent starts.

Though Haynesfield ran about two seconds slower in the Count Fleet than he did in the Damon Runyon, he at least showed for the first time that he could rate successfully.

"He doesn't have to have the lead," said Toby Sheets, the assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. "Hopefully, we progress."

One of the intriguing new faces Haynesfield will meet in the Whirlaway is Hehasnosay, a son of Harlan's Holiday who has won a pair of two-turn races at Philadelphia Park. Though Hehasnosay has yet to run fast, he did impress his trainer, Steve Klesaris, with the way he won his last start.

"If I told you at the five-sixteenths pole he was going to win you would have said you can't get there from here," Klesaris said. "It was a pretty impressive finish."

Hehasnosay will break from post 2 under Eddie Castro.

Peace Town, who breaks from post 3, has won 3 of 4 starts on regular dirt, including his only start around two turns.

Mike from Queens, Zooger, and Cellar Dweller complete the field.