Send It In should walk his beat in Haynesfield Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Someday, Send It In will get an opportunity to run in an open-company stakes race. For now, his connections seem content to give him a chance at a second restricted stakes victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Haynesfield at Aqueduct.

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right?” said Paul Pompa Jr., the owner and breeder of Send It In. “As an owner, I’ve been doing this for 17 years. When you got a horse that’s even-money or 4-5, that means you got him in the right spot. He’s a New York-bred, I’m the breeder, I’m the owner – it’s another good spot for him.”

Chances are that Send It In will be odds-on against four rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Haynesfield, which shares billing with the $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes for New York-breds at six furlongs on Saturday’s nine-race card, which begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

Send It In, a 5-year-old gelding by Big Brown trained by Todd Pletcher, is coming off a 3 3/4-length victory in the Alex M. Robb Stakes here on Dec. 31. That was his sixth win in his last eight starts – the two defeats coming by a head and a neck – dating to Oct. 8, 2015. He missed nine months in 2016 due to a spiral fracture that required surgery.

Narrowly beaten in his Dec. 9 return despite running a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, Send It In came back with a handy victory in the Alex M. Robb, run at the same distance as the Haynesfield.

On Saturday, Send It In likely will have to run down Fox Rules, an 8-year-old gelding who makes his first start after being claimed for $40,000 by David Cannizzo last month.

Cannizzo said he had wanted Fox Rules for a long time and hopes his speed makes him uncatchable on the inner track.

“We’re going to the lead; there’s not going to be any taking back,” Cannizzo said. “We’ll see how good he is. He’s training excellent.”

Repent Twice, who beat Fox Rules in a New York-bred allowance/optional claimer on Jan. 13, starts for Charlton Baker for the first time.

The Hollie Hughes, which goes as race 8, drew a field of nine, including last year’s winner, Drama King. With Bond Vigilante and Bustin It in this field, there should be a solid pace, potentially setting it up for a closer such as the in-form runners Celtic Chaos or Candid Desire.

KEY CONTENDERS

HAYNESFIELD (Race 3)

Send It In, by Big Brown

Last 3 Beyers: 96-102-104

◗ His only loss in his last six starts came by a neck when he was returning from a nine-month layoff and faced a front-runner on a speed-favoring surface.

◗ On a slow Belmont training track, he worked a decent half-mile in 50.47 seconds in company with Hard Study, who runs in Saturday’s second race.

Fox Rules, by Roman Ruler

Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-83

◗ Likely will try to steal this race on the front end under Kendrick Carmouche, though that tactic didn’t work in this race last year, when he faded to fifth behind Good Luck Gus.

◗ Cannizzo has had a frustrating winter, with 4 wins and 10 seconds from 50 starters.

HOLLIE HUGHES (Race 8)

Celtic Chaos, by Dublin

Last 3 Beyers: 89-81-82

◗ Made a nice run to make up a ton of ground when second to sharp winner Big Zip in a second-level statebred allowance on New Year’s Day.

“He needs a fast pace to run at,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

Candid Desire, by Yes It’s True

Last 3 Beyers: 94-85-86

◗ Comes off a solid allowance win against open company and seems to be steadily improving for a barn that is going well this winter.

“He did it really nice and easy,” trainer Gary Sciacca said.

Loki’s Vengeance, by Frost Giant

Last 3 Beyers: 60-94-81

◗ Back in with New York-breds after a seventh-place finish in the Gravesend.

◗ Two back, he recorded a sharp front-running victory in the New York Stallion Stakes going seven furlongs over the main track.

◗ Trainer Mike Hushion has won this race six times.