Honor Up, Syndergaard get rematch in Haynesfield Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It may be advisable to wait until scratch time to handicap Sunday’s $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes at Aqueduct.

Honor Up and Syndergaard, two of the leading contenders in the one-mile Haynesfield, also were entered in Monday’s $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes, run at six furlongs. As the Hollie Hughes drew a field of 10 and the Haynesfield attracted only six, it is likely that Honor Up and Syndergaard – the 1-2 finishers in the seven-furlong Say Florida Sandy on Jan. 12 – stay in the Haynesfield.

Honor Up, the probable Haynesfield favorite, hasn’t run as short as six furlongs since he finished fourth in his career debut 18 months ago. Trainer Michelle Nevin seems more inclined to stretch this son of To Honor and Serve out in distance than shorten him up.

“He’s been so good at seven-eighths, I feel like a mile is not a question,” Nevin said. “He’s run well going long on the grass. It was definitely something we were interested in finding out how he would do going further.”

Syndergaard lost by only a neck to Honor Up in the Say Florida Sandy, his second straight strong performance.

“When he hit the front, he idled a little bit, waited for a little competition,” trainer John Terranova said. “He almost got a little bit lazy. Once Honor Up came to him, he had the momentum and went by him … [Syndergaard] tried to come back.”

Syndergaard will either be battling with or sitting just off expected pacesetter Stoney Bennett, who stretched out to a mile last time to beat first-level open-company allowance runners.

Completing the field are Twisted Tom, who comes off a tough nose loss to Mr. Buff in the Alex M. Robb; Loki’s Vengeance, who finished last in his lone try at a mile from 38 career starts; and Fiery Opal.

KEY CONTENDERS

Honor Up, by To Honor and Serve
Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-86

◗ Though he rallied from next to last in the Say Florida Sandy, Honor Up has tactical speed to be closer going a mile if need be, Nevin said.

“He’s super professional,” she said. “He’s very tactical. He’s been a push-button for the jocks to ride. They all seem to really like him.”

◗ Jose Lezcano rides Honor Up, replacing Manny Franco, who stays on Stoney Bennett.

Syndergaard, by Majesticperfection
Last 3 Beyers: 98-94-48

◗ Seems to have found the form he displayed at 2, when he won the Funny Cide Stakes by 10 1/4 lengths and was beaten a nose by Practical Joke in the Grade 1 Champagne.

“I think the horse had his confidence rattled,” Terranova said. “A lot of it was he wasn’t coming away from the gate quite well, got slammed a couple of times. He was getting thrown out of sync.”

Stoney Bennett, by Bustin Stones
Last 3 Beyers: 95-93-82

◗ Speed is a good weapon to have on this main track, and this gelding seems to have the most of it in this field.