Iron Power gets one last shot at dirt in Haynesfield Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Mike Hushion will send out Iron Power against probable odds-on favorite Send It In in Saturday’s $100,000 Haynesfield for New York-breds going 1 1/16 miles.

Iron Power, a 7-year-old gelding by Mizzen Mast, had gone more than two years without racing on dirt when he finished sixth behind Send It In in the Alex M. Robb on Dec. 31. His previous 12 races had been on turf.

Hushion said he put Iron Power back on dirt in the Robb because he was relatively fresh, having run just twice previously in 2016, “and was training super on the dirt.”

Iron Power showed brief speed in the Robb before retreating. Hushion said he wants to give the gelding one more shot on dirt before conceding that he may just be a turf horse.

Iron Power will break from post 3 in the five-horse field. Send It In will break from post 4 under Manny Franco. Eden Ridge, Fox Rules, and Repent Twice complete the field.

With only five runners, the Haynesfield will be run as race 3 on the nine-race card, which begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.