Stoney Bennett adds blinkers for Great White Way

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With an equipment change, a workout over the track, and the hottest rider on the grounds, Stoney Bennett has many things in his favor entering Sunday’s $150,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct.

Stoney Bennett, a son of Bustin Stones trained by Ollie Figgins III, comes out of a second-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the Notebook Stakes for statebreds Nov. 26. Stoney Bennett, who had the outside post, broke outward leaving the gate. In the stretch, he looked poised to go by Sea Foam and Morning Breez, but finished only evenly, falling a length short of Sea Foam while edging out Morning Breez for second.

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For those reasons, Figgins is equipping Stoney Bennett with blinkers for the first time Sunday.

“Irad said he was clocking that horse, he went to him and was a little reluctant to go by him,” said Figgins, referring to jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. who will be aboard Sunday. “He hasn’t gotten out of the gate too perfect in each of his three starts. So, hopefully, he’ll break a little better and be more focused.”

Ortiz has been the hottest rider in the country. From Dec. 3 thru Thursday, Ortiz had five three-win days and one four-win day.

Though Stoney Bennett has had a race over the track, Figgins shipped him up to New York from Maryland in time to get a workout over the track. Last Sunday, Stoney Bennett went a half-mile in 49.01 seconds, the fastest of six half-mile moves at the distance.

Stoney Bennett will break from post 2. The horse he likely has to catch is Dezzer, who won his debut at Belmont Park in front-running fashion in a $50,000 maiden claimer Oct. 13. Dezzer will break from the rail Sunday under Paco Lopez and will likely be on the lead.

“Hopefully, we break good,” trainer Jorge Navarro said. “First time out, he came out of the gate, he didn’t know what to do. I hope he just goes.”

Navarro believes his horse has an advantage in having trained over the deep surface at Gulfstream Park West.

“You saw the way Sharp Azteca performed,” said Navarro, referring to the winner of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

The wildcard of the field may be Belleville Spring, a maiden who finished second against open company in his debut at Churchill Downs. Belleville Spring broke outward from his outside post and raced wide down the backstretch.

A New York-bred son of Trinniberg, Belleville Spring has been transferred from Wayne Mackey to George Weaver since his debut. Manny Franco rides.

Inalienable Rights, who will run as a gelding for the first time, Five Star Bunt, Spectacular Kid, and Aqua Bel Sar complete the field.

The Great White Way goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m.