Belmont Park Saturday, June 3, 2023 Weather: Cloudy  Temperature: 66  Track: Fast ELMONT, N.Y. - Although stablemates FORTE and TAPIT TRICE will make their next starts in the Belmont Stakes, their final works for that event were, not surprisingly, orchestrated in a totally different manner. Forte, without having started over the past 10 weeks since his victory in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 2, was asked to do more this morning than Tapit Trice, who bridged the gap between his victory in the Grade 1 Blue Grass and the upcoming Belmont with a somewhat disappointing seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs five weeks ago. Tapit Trice was the first of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Belmont-bound duo to breeze, going several minutes after the track re-opened following the renovation break. Going in company with Classic Catch, who was a distant fourth in the Peter Pan in his most recent start, Tapit Trice dominated the work throughout, breezing a super-easy half-mile in 49.59 while in hand and kept well off the rail, opening nearly a four-length advantage on his overmatched mate to the wire before galloping out with tons of energy, five furlongs in 1:02.19 before easing up three-quarters in 1:15.02.  Strictly a maintenance run, and a very solid one, for the son of Tapit exiting a much more serious and sharp five-eighths drill eight days earlier. Forte, with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, was given the lightly raced 4-year-old maiden winner Varatti as a target, breaking off at the five furlongs pole about 1 1/2 lengths behind his mate. The pair zipped along from the outset, Forte shading :35 while edging closer after the opening three furlongs before completing the distance on even terms, posting a 59.22 final clocking with both horses going comfortably and on their own throughout. And, as was the case in his previous work a week earlier, Forte maintained a strong pace down the home straight and into the sweeping clubhouse turn, galloping out six panels in 1:12.50 before easing up seven-eighths in 1:26.37.  :: Bet the Belmont Stakes with confidence! Join DRF Bets and get a $250 deposit match bonus, $10 free bet, and FREE DRF Formulator! The bruised foot that kept him out of the Derby now well in the rear-view mirror, Forte appears to be heading into the Belmont poised for another big effort although facing the prospect of trying to stay 1 1/2 miles without the benefit of a race over the past 2 1/2 months. Churchill Downs Track: Fast Trainer Brad Cox worked his three Belmont contenders on Saturday, all in company in separate sets. Kentucky Derby third-place finisher of ANGEL OF EMPIRE worked with Warrant, “finishing well and galloping out in his usual strong manner” according to Daily Racing Form clocker Brandon Stauble.  Five furlongs from the half in 23.40 47.00 59.80 1:12.60. HIT SHOW went with Victory Formation, “going in steady fashion and galloping out fine, although I thought he was better before the Derby” per Stauble. Five furlongs from the half 48.20 1:01.40 1:14.40. TAPIT SHOES “worked well in company with Bishops Bay and seems like he is on the improve,” per Stauble.  Five furlongs from the half 48.00 1:00.40 1:13.60. Keeneland Track: Fast RAISE CAIN got in his final Derby work, breezed an easy half-mile in 34.60 50.00 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:04 and six furlongs in 1:19.20 according to Daily Racing Form clocker Donald Harris, who described the work as “another leisurely move.”  Raise Cain had Junior Alvarado up and worked in blinkers, an equipment change that trainer Ben Colebrook plans to make for the Belmont.   FRIDAY June 2 Gulfstream Park Weather:Cloudy  Track: Fast IL MIRACOLO, who projects to be the longest price on the board in the Belmont Stakes, completed his serious preparations for the daunting assignment over his home course at Gulfstream Park, working five furlongs in company with the winless (16 starts) 4-year-old Media Sensation, readily drawing off from his partner when sharply roused by jockey Marco Meneses from the eighth pole to the wire, completing a pressured five furlongs over a very fast track in 36.00 1:00.88 before easing up after six panels in 1:14.80 per track clockers. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.