Suburban Handicap Odds and Analysis

by Bodog Racebook | Jun 27 2011

Tizway, Haynesfield and Rodman are among the top contenders for the $300,000 Gr. 2 Suburban Handicap, a 1 1/8 mile race held at Belmont Park for 3-year-olds and up on Saturday, July 2.

Tizway, winner of the Gr. 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on May 30, is under consideration for the Suburban Handicap and would likely be sent off as the favorite, should he run.

Trainer James Bond indicated that though the Gr. 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 6 remains a major goal for this 6-year-old son of Tiznow, his stellar performances at Belmont Park might tilt the scales in favor of a Suburban start.

Tizway earned an impressive 113 Beyer Speed Figure in his Met Mile performance and in five starts at Belmont Park has never finished worse than third. A 4-furlong breeze at Saratoga on June 22 was timed in 49.48. Owned by William Clifton, Jr., Tizway has earned $909,017 from 19 lifetime starts and is 6-1-5.

Winner of the 2010 Suburban Handicap and possibly returning to defend his crown is 5-year-old Haynesfield, a New York-bred. Trained by Steven Asmussen for Turtle Bird Stable, the son of Speightstown is still looking for his first win of 2011. He has raced twice this year, both times at Belmont Park and finished fourth in the Gr. 3 Westchester Stakes on April 30 and fifth in the Gr. 1 Metropolitan Handicap on May 30.

A recent 5-furlong work at Belmont Park on June 13 was timed in 1:02.12. The experienced Haynesfield has earned $1,186,981 from 17 starts and is a career 9-2-1.

Looking to build on a strong runner-up performance in the Gr. 1 Metropolitan Handicap is Rodman, a 6-year-old son of Malibu Moon. Trained by Michael Hushion, Rodman began his 2011 campaign at Aqueduct, where he followed up a runner-up finish in an allowance optional claimer on Feb. 18 with a stakes win in the Irish Tower Stakes on April 14; he did not race as a 5-year-old. Owned by Barry Schwartz, this Kentucky-bred posted a 5-furlong workout at Belmont Park on June 16 timed in 1:01.24. He is 15-6-4-0 and has earned a career $346,152.

The Suburban Handicap will be only his third appearance in a graded stakes race but he appears to be improving with each outing.

Also possible for the Suburban Handicap are Hockley, Stormy’s Majesty, Colizeo, Convocation, Icabad Crane and Hymn Book; previously considered was Friend Or Foe, who is recovering from an abscess and is expected to bypass the race.

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