American Pharoah training like a Triple Crown winner

BELMONT PARK

TRACK: FAST

WEATHER: CLEAR

TEMPERATURE: 60

ELMONT, N.Y. – There are no more uneventful mornings on the Belmont Stakes workout watch now that AMERICAN PHAROAH has arrived, and he put on another great show during a 1 1/2-mile gallop here Thursday, showing great energy dragging his rider around at a two-minute clip for the opening mile before coming to hand down the stretch.

KEEN ICE was expected to jog this morning after working at Churchill Downs on Tuesday and walking Wednesday. But it’s doubtful anybody expected to see Keen Ice jog twice around the 1 1/2-mile oval – that’s three miles for those who don’t want to do the math – and he did it with a hop in his step while making a nice impression in his first local appearance.

FROSTED finally got to stretch his legs a little more Thursday after jogging the previous three mornings. He galloped a mile after jogging a mile from the gap back to the six-furlong pole.

The following are impressions of the eight prospective Belmont starters from observations made during training hours both here and at Churchill Downs over the past two weeks. They are listed in post-position order.

MUBTAAHIJ – Has had the most unorthodox of training schedules leading up to the race, recording six works at Belmont over the past 18 days, including three-eighths in 37.47 seconds with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard Thursday. Although his five-furlong work with Ortiz up in 1:00.97 on Saturday was an improvement over several of his other breezes, overall he has made just an okay impression. At times, he appeared rank and uncomfortable during gallops, especially over a wet track, moving like a horse who might actually prefer the turf.

TALE OF VERVE – He hasn’t had a bad day since his arrival in New York following an improved performance in the Preakness. Looks a picture of health, all dappled out and eager to train every morning. He was sharp breezing over the track last Saturday, should relish the added ground, and appears to be sitting on another big effort.

MADEFROMLUCKY – Has been a bit of a puzzle over the past two weeks. He’s gotten a bit warm on some mornings during gallops, moved smoothly and trained very well on others. He turned in the best work I’ve seen from him when he kept pace with Carpe Diem going five furlongs in 59.19 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.79 on May 22, then turned in a disappointing effort one week later when unable to match strides with Carpe Diem despite being whipped several times through the stretch. He also got very hot that morning. Looks like a horse who would have to be at his very best to contend.

FRAMMENTO – Haven’t had much opportunity to see him train, although he did make a very good appearance when jogging over the main track here Wednesday. He’s really going to have to step up his game to factor in this spot.

AMERICAN PHAROAH – The most talented horse in the field also is training the best coming into the race. There are not enough superlatives to describe his awesome work at Churchill Downs on Monday, when he cruised an absolutely effortless five furlongs in 1:00.08 before galloping out like a monster, six furlongs in 1:12.82, seven-eighths in 1:25.94, and a mile in 1:39.59. Has was just as sharp and eager to train during his first two training sessions at Belmont and seemed to have adapted well to his surroundings. Considering the way he’s thrived since the Preakness, if there’s ever going to be a Triple Crown winner in our lifetime, he sure seems like the one.

FROSTED – Cannot fault his appearance here the past two weeks. During his latest work, he more than held his own with the older multiple graded stakes winner Tamarkuz going five furlongs on May 29. It was easily his best work over the past couple of months. He did keep a relatively light schedule coming out of that work, not doing much more than jog until he galloped a mile Thursday. The biggest question mark with him is whether he’s capable of staying 1 1/2 miles against the likes of American Pharoah.

KEEN ICE – Only had the opportunity to see him train in person twice in Kentucky, and liked what I saw, especially his two-mile gallop last Sunday when he really picked up the pace over the final half-mile. His penultimate work the previous week looked good on tape, and he appears to be thriving and training with a lot more verve compared to when I saw him at Gulfstream Park this winter. Seems like another one who might be sitting on his best yet.

MATERIALITY – He trained about as forwardly as anyone leading up to the Derby, then virtually lost all chance at the break and deserves a mulligan for that race. While he’s continued to train well here over the past two weeks, he’s not had quite the same energy level during his gallops as he had in Kentucky in the two weeks leading up to Derby Day. His two local breezes were very good, although he did get quite hot prior to the latest, then failed to make up ground on regular workmate Stanford. Stanford is a good work horse in his own right, but Materiality had gotten the better of him in all previous drills. Would expect him to run well Saturday, but I cannot go into the Belmont with quite the high level of confidence I had for the Derby.