Syndergaard back in stakes company in Say Florida Sandy

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Fans of the New York Mets are not the only ones hoping for a big year from Syndergaard.

Syndergaard, the horse named after Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, will return to stakes company in Saturday’s $100,000 Say Florida Sandy for New York-breds going seven furlongs.

Last month, Syndergaard won a second-level allowance race by a nose for his first victory since he captured the Funny Cide Stakes by 10 1/4 lengths at Saratoga in August 2016. He ran a very good second – with the human Syndergaard in attendance – in the Grade 1 Champagne that October. He lost six consecutive starts over the next two years before his narrow victory last month.

Two of those losses came for John Terranova II, who took over the training of this son of Majesticperfection last summer.

“One time, he got slammed out of the gate,” Terranova said. “Last time, he just misfired, so we regrouped, got everything sorted out with him, and he’s done nothing but go forward. Especially that last race. Since then, it’s like night and day mentally with him. Everything has fallen into place.”

On Monday, Syndergaard worked a sharp half-mile in 48.00 seconds, with a 23.51-second final quarter.

Syndergaard drew post 7 in a field of nine entered Wednesday for the Say Florida Sandy. Also entered were Gold for the King and Celtic Chaos, second and third behind My Boy Tate in this race last year, Bluegrass Express, Honor Up, Jewel Can Disco, Morning Breez, Royal Asset, and Winston’s Chance.