Haynesfield getting on regular schedule at Aqueduct

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Haynesfield, last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, worked five furlongs in 1:03.41 Sunday morning over Belmont Park’s training track. It was his third work since March 8 as his connections look toward a mid-to-late spring return to the races for the 5-year-old New York-bred.

Haynesfield’s training was hampered by weather this winter, which forced his connections to scrap a hoped for return in the Grade 1 Carter on April 9. Toby Sheets, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont on May 30 is the race he would like to try and make, if timing permits.

“Once we get a little further along we’ll make a decision,” Sheets said. “The time [off] did him good. He’s come back very well. I don’t know how, but he keeps getting bigger. I’m glad to have finally gotten good weather so we can go ahead and train.”

Rule by Night, who hasn’t been out since winning an overnight sprint stakes by 9 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct in November, earning a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, worked five furlongs in 1:03.88 on Sunday morning at Belmont. It was his third work back since having a chip removed from a knee. Sheets said there is no race yet picked out for Rule by Night.

Meanwhile, Sheets said Goombada Guska is being pointed to the Grade 3, $100,000 Excelsior here April 2. Goombada Guska was purchased privately by Harvey Weinstein’s Turtle Bird Stable – the same owner as Haynesfield – following his victory in the Stymie on Feb. 26. He worked five furlongs in 1:02.22 on Sunday morning at Belmont.

Dominguez finishes with a flurry

Ramon Dominguez won 12 races from 36 mounts last week at Aqueduct to finish the inner track season with 112 victories from 344 mounts, a 32.55 winning percentage. With 46 races left to run over the inner track, Dominguez holds a 43-win lead over David Cohen. Dominguez is in Dubai this week and won’t be riding at the Big A.

This will be Dominguez’s fourth inner track riding title. In 2008-09, he won 124 races from 459 mounts, while in 07-08, he went 113 for 469. Last year, Dominguez won the title with 109 wins from 362 mounts.

Trainer Todd Pletcher looks poised to win his second consecutive inner track trainer’s title. He maintains a 36-29 advantage over Rudy Rodriguez, who does not have a starter on Wednesday or Thursday’s card and only has two in on Friday.

Pletcher will likely have the favorite for Saturday’s $100,000 Ladies Handicap with Quiet Giant, a winner of three consecutive inner track stakes. Quiet Giant is expected to be the starting highweight at 122 pounds against the likes of Potosina (117), R Betty Graybull (116) and State Treasure (115). C.C.’s Pal (116), Cody Samora (113), and Miss Mockingbird (113) are possible.