Arcangelo quick, strong in first post-Belmont work

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Arcangelo returned to the work tab for the first time since his victory in the Belmont Stakes on June 10, breezing five furlongs in 58.61 seconds per Daily Racing Form over a fast main track Wednesday at Saratoga.

Over a track packed down some by overnight rains but in perfect shape by the time he worked shortly after the renovation break, Arcangelo posted splits of 23.43 seconds and 34.65 for the opening three furlongs, then responded to some light urging to complete his final quarter in 23.94. He proceeded to gallop out full of energy as usual, completing six furlongs in 1:12.28 and seven-eighths in 1:26.00 before easing up after a mile in 1:40.40.

“It was his first work back, the track was very snappy, and the time was irrelevant,” said trainer Jena Antonucci. “He needed to get out there and stretch his legs and get a nice work underneath after being off since the Belmont, and that’s exactly what he did.

“The track crew deserves acknowledgement. I give that team a ton of credit for having the track in such good shape after the harrow break. It’s been very consistent since we’ve been up here and the horses have been getting over it nicely.”

Antonucci was a bit noncommittal as to whether Arcangelo might have a start before her major goal for the Belmont winner, the Grade 1 Travers, here on Aug. 26.

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“Since the plan is to run him as a 4-year-old, we’re not looking to put a gazillion races under his belt this year,” said Antonucci. “Our larger focus is the Travers right now and he’s continued to thrive and do well having had his races spaced his entire career to this point, although we will continue to monitor our options between now and then.”

Mage breezes in Kentucky

The Travers is also Mage’s major objective this summer. The Kentucky Derby winner inched a little closer to that goal by picking up the pace quite a bit in his morning activity, working five furlongs Saturday in 1:00.60 at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky.

The work was the second for Mage, and first serious drill, since he finished third behind National Treasure in the Preakness on May 20.

“The first work was just something to get him loping along, jogging and galloping. It wasn’t a true work,” said co-owner Ramiro Restrepo who, along with trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr., picked Mage out for purchase last year at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale. “Everybody was surprised he went as quick as he did, but he did it on his own.”

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Restrepo said Mage will breeze again at the training center on Friday before likely joining Arcangelo, his former neighbor last winter at Gulfstream Park, in Saratoga. Mage, like Arcangelo, at this time has nothing etched in stone regarding a possible prep race for the Travers.

“We can go to the Jim Dandy, the Haskell, or train him up to the Travers, although I’d pretty much rule out the Haskell at this time,” said Restrepo. “The Travers has been our number one goal since the Preakness was over and that’s been our mindset ever since. To find the optimum way to get him to run back to that mile and one-quarter Derby race in the Travers.”

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