ELMONT, N.Y. – In addition to his two potential Belmont Stakes starters – Vino Rosso and Noble Indy – trainer Todd Pletcher worked several other horses Friday ahead of stakes races on the June 9 Belmont card.
Hi Happy, the winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War, went a half-mile in 48.56 seconds over the Belmont training track in preparation for the Grade 1 Manhattan. Hi Happy worked with Driven to Compete.
ELMONT, N.Y. – John Velazquez will ride Strike Power in the Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens on June 9, Belmont Stakes Day. On Friday, Velazquez got acquainted with the 3-year-old by working him five furlongs in 1:00.79 over Belmont Park’s main track.
According to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, Strike Power got his final quarter in 23.04 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.07.
ELMONT, N.Y. – That Mind Your Biscuits has not proven himself beyond seven furlongs was on the mind of trainer Chad Summers on Friday when he gave the New York-bred colt his strongest workout to date in preparation for next month’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Just before 9 a.m., Mind Your Biscuits worked six furlongs in 1:11.66 and galloped out a mile in 1:37.80. He went his opening three-quarters in 36.54 seconds and his last three furlongs in 35.12 under Joel Rosario.
BELMONT PARK
Friday, May 25
Track: Fast
Weather: Clear
Temp.: 63
ELMONT, N.Y. – The Belmont Stakes is now just 15 days away, and that means things will start getting a lot more serious in the morning for the dozen or so 3-year-olds under consideration for the final leg of the Triple Crown, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Justify.
Jockey Mike Smith, who in two weeks will chase the Triple Crown with Justify, is scheduled to ride Sunday at Lone Star. He has the mount on Mubtaahij in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.
Smith said Justify has been a blessing and he is looking forward to the Belmont Stakes.
“It’s every rider’s dream to get an opportunity like this,” he said Friday. “First of all, to win a Derby, and a Preakness . . . and now going for the Triple Crown. I’m so excited for the opportunity. I can’t wait.”
Smith is based in Southern California.
Shotgun Kowboy and jockey Luis Quinonez have been stalwarts in the Mid-South region, which includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, and on Sunday they will attempt to pull a mild upset in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.
“It’s a tough race, but he’s that caliber of horse, too,” Quinonez said.
Shotgun Kowboy, a Grade 3 winner, went over $1 million in career earnings on Feb. 3 when he won an allowance at Oaklawn. The 6-year-old won by five lengths in a race run over the same 1 1/16-mile distance of the Lone Star.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Despite a very good chance of rain over the holiday weekend, and after some deliberation on the part of the racing office hierarchy, the Home of the Brave Handicap was drawn Friday for Monday’s special Memorial Day program at Gulfstream Park.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gunnevera, who has been on the farm recuperating from a deep hoof wound suffered during the running of the Dubai World Cup on March 31, will return to Gulfstream Park West next week to begin preparations for the second half of his 2018 campaign, trainer Antonio Sano reported Friday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Next Shares is winless in four starts since joining trainer Richard Baltas’s California stable last fall.
The losing streak has not diminished expectations that Next Shares can win an important stakes on turf, perhaps as quickly as Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Monomoy Girl is scheduled to breeze Sunday at Churchill Downs in her second major work since the filly won the May 4 Kentucky Oaks for trainer Brad Cox.
Monomoy Girl went a half-mile last Sunday in 48.80 seconds.
“She came out of the Oaks in great shape,” Cox said.
The Grade 1 Acorn on the Belmont undercard is the next scheduled start for Monomoy Girl, a winner in six of seven career starts.
Wise Dan for turf champ
