Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up
“He came in around 5 o’clock (EDT) this morning, he shipped in well,”
The bay colt will enter the Belmont still seeking his first stakes
Animal Kingdom is also set to work on Monday at Belmont, but will likely miss
The Derby winner will arrive Sunday from Maryland’s Fair Hill Training Center and be stabled in the barn of trainer David Donk, a longtime friend of
Preakness S. (G1) winner SHACKLEFORD (Forestry), who shipped in to
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Trainer Dale Romans said a final decision on a Belmont start would likely be
made Sunday, but is optimistic the colt will run in the “Test of the Champion.”
Should the chestnut colt start, it would mark the first time since 2005 that
the Kentucky Derby winner and the Preakness victor faced off in the Belmont.
That year, Preakness winner Afleet Alex won the Belmont, with Derby winner
Giacomo finishing seventh.
Risen Star S. (G2) hero MUCHO MACHO MAN (Macho Uno), third in the Derby and
“Everything is going good,” Ritvo said. “He jogged two miles on the main
After his morning gallop, the leggy chestnut colt, who stands 17-1 hands
“He hates cold water,” Ritvo said. “If you try to give him a bath in cold
Gotham S. (G3) winner STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini), who later finished 12th in
“The horse is doing well and had a very good breeze (six furlongs in 1:12)
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No final determination has been made on a rider for Stay Thirsty. Dominguez
had been aboard for the colt’s previous three starts this season.
RULER ON ICE (Roman Ruler), third in the Sunland Derby (G3) and second in the
Federico Tesio, will breeze either Saturday or Sunday morning at Monmouth Park
in what will be his final workout in the lead-up to the Belmont Stakes.
“He’s doing well,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “We’re not sure which day he’ll
breeze at the moment.”
Breen said he hasn’t decided when he’ll ship Ruler on Ice to Belmont Park,
but would like to keep the colt at Monmouth Park for as long as possible.
“We’re playing it by ear,” Breen added. “He likes Monmouth Park, and we want
to keep him happy.”
Breen will confirm Ruler on Ice’s rider at a later date.
Blue Grass S. (G1) scorer BRILLIANT SPEED (Dynaformer), who was seventh in
“I feel as if he’s going into this race the same way he went into the Derby,”
PRIME CUT (Bernstein), who ran second in the April 23 Lexington S. (G3) at
“We’re still possible,” Howard said from Churchill Downs, where Prime Cut
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Prime Cut is scheduled to put in his final major move for the race at
Churchill Downs Monday morning. Howard said the bay colt was doing very well, and added that while the 1 1/2
miles is a question mark for all the starters, he feels the colt’s stamina and
pedigree are a plus.
“He ran very well in an important prep race for the Belmont, the Peter Pan,
so he has a good race over the track,” the trainer added. “But in a race like
the Belmont, you don’t want to just say, ‘Yee-hah, let’s go!’ You’ve got the two
obvious horses in Animal Kingdom and Shackleford, both of whom still look strong
to me, and Nehro as well.”
In other Belmont news:
Video of Wednesday’s post position draw for the Belmont will be streamed live
on the official site of the
Belmont
Stakes.
Kristi Wierzbicki of Bayonne, New Jersey, was selected as the winner
of the Belmont Stakes Prize Package for two, which includes transportation, hotel
accommodations, and premium tickets for the Belmont Stakes.
Wierzbicki, whose name was selected from 11,299 entrants, and one other
person will be driven by U.S. Limousine Service to the Belmont Stakes. They’ll
stay at The Long Island Marriot Hotel and Conference Center in Uniondale, New York
on the Friday and Saturday of the race.
Runner-up Karen Derenthal of Lynbrook, New York, will receive a $100 gift
certificate to the online NYRA Store.