Securitiz targets Stymie Stakes after win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Securitiz, who rallied to win a third-level allowance race by a length going a one-turn mile Feb. 2 at Aqueduct, likely will make his next start in the $150,000 Stymie Stakes here March 10, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said.

The Stymie, which has been run at 1 1/2 miles, 1 1/4 miles, and 1 1/8 miles, will be run as a one-turn mile for the first time this year. Securitiz won his last two starts around one turn, including the Seattle Slew Stakes at Belmont last fall.

Jerkens, who trains Securitiz for Centennial Farms, called the Stymie “a logical spot. It’s far enough away, and he seems to like space between races.”

Securitiz, a 6-year-old son of Tiznow, seemed ready to make a move forward last fall when he kicked in late to run down Backsideofthemoon and win the Seattle Slew Stakes. But his next two starts – the Richard W. Small Stakes at Laurel and the Queens County at Aqueduct – were poor. Jerkens said he thought the third-level allowance field may have been too tough, and there was some thought about pointing to an optional claimer and running him for the tag.

But Jerkens felt the race shape would aid Securitiz, and he was able to run down Classy Class in deep stretch. Jerkens gave jockey Manny Franco credit, noting that he also was aboard for the Seattle Slew victory.

“When he rode him in the Seattle Slew, he did the same thing – made sure there wasn’t a straw in his path, got his attention with the left hand, and said, ‘Come on, let’s go, we ain’t done yet.’ ” Jerkens said. “Some horses need that.”

Securitiz has a 4-6-3 record from 20 starts.

Blewitt not in a rush

Coming off a 5 3/4-length romp in a first-level New York-bred allowance going a mile last Sunday, Blewitt would seem like a fit for the Stymie as well. But trainer Todd Pletcher said he is not in a hurry to run the 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo in stakes just yet.

“He still has another New York-bred allowance condition, but we’re hoping to find bigger and better things at some point,” Pletcher, up from Florida for a quick visit, said Thursday in his Belmont office. “He’s still a relatively inexperienced 4-year-old.”

Pletcher did not nominate Blewitt to the Haynesfield Stakes for New York-breds on Feb. 17 because it would be only 13 days from his most recent race.

Blewitt, named by owner Mike Repole for his friend, former New York racing commentator Jason Blewitt, has won 2 of 3 starts. After winning his debut Dec. 1, Blewitt was upset by Clutch Cargo on Dec. 23. He beat a relatively weak field last time out but certainly did it the right way and earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

“From the one hole, we needed him to get away cleanly, which he sort of did,” Pletcher said. “It seems like once he gets into that rhythm, he kind of just keeps going, gives us the impression he’ll handle more distance.”

Send It In nears return

Pletcher can only hope Blewitt develops into another Send It In, a multiple stakes-winning New York-bred who is nearing a return to the races after having been off for 10 months.

Send It In, who won the Excelsior Handicap at Aqueduct last April with a 119 Beyer, could seek a repeat in that race, which this year is scheduled for April 7 at Aqueduct. But first Send It In will likely return in the Grade 3, $100,000 Hal’s Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park at a mile.

“I don’t think that’s his deal distance, but it gets him started and hopefully build for some longer races,” Pletcher said. “It’ll probably be a good setup for the Excelsior.”

Send It In was entered in but scratched from the Brooklyn last June with an injury to his shoulder.