Once a “playboy,” Eagle now a player in Suburban

ELMONT, N.Y. – It has been five years since trainer Neil Howard last started a horse at Belmont Park. But he returns here Saturday with Eagle, a top-flight contender in the Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban Handicap.

Eagle, a son of Candy Ride, is running back just three weeks after he finished second, a half-length behind Bradester, in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Though the Suburban means running him back on short rest, Howard said the opportunity to run Eagle 1 1/4 miles “was appealing.”

Howard added, “Until they do it, you don’t know for sure, but we felt it was something within his grasp.”

Howard trains Eagle for William S. Farish. They teamed to win the 2003 Suburban – then a Grade 1 – with Mineshaft, who was voted Horse of the Year.

Eagle has finished second in four of the last six stakes in which he’s competed. He won the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland and finished fourth, but was placed third via disqualification, in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds. Eagle has been extremely consistent since returning from an eight-month layoff last September.

“With this horse, more than anything, it’s been his maturity,” Howard said. “He was a little bit of a playboy for a while. He always ran well, but he needed to mature and grow up a little bit. To say [he’s matured] is an understatement.”

Brian Hernandez will ride Eagle from post 4.

Effinex, last year’s Suburban winner and the 122-pound highweight this year, will break from post 5 and be reunited with Mike Smith. Noble Bird drew the rail, followed by Mubtaahij, Shaman Ghost, Eagle, Effinex, Turco Bravo, Samraat, and Tapin Mojo.