Belmont Stakes clocker: Tacitus, Sir Winston looking good

BELMONT PARK
Thursday, June 6
Weather: Clear
Temp.: 71
Track: Fast

ELMONT, N.Y. – All 10 members of the Belmont Stakes field were on the grounds for Thursday’s training session at Belmont Park, with routine gallops the order of the day. JOEVIA and EVERFAST galloped over the main track for the first time, while WAR OF WILL and stablemate SIR WINSTON went out earlier than usual, perhaps with the thought of finding a quieter time for the energetic Preakness winner to train this morning rather than during the hustle and bustle after the renovation break.

With all the heavy lifting done, here is a capsule look, in post-position order, at the Belmont field.

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1. Joevia – Looked fine galloping shortly before the renovation break. Figures part of the pace breaking from the rail.

2. Everfast – Doesn’t have the prettiest way of going at a gallop from watching this morning’s session, although those who have seen him train more regularly say that just might be him.

3. Master Fencer – Stumbled under a barrage of pressure in his first local work, never changed leads while faltering during latter stages of his second. Moves like a horse who’d prefer turf.

4. Tax – Was a little disappointing in his final Belmont breeze here last weekend and has looked just okay during routine gallops exiting that work.

5. Bourbon War – Had the blinkers off in his lone work since his even but somewhat against-the-bias performance in the Preakness. Has made a decent impression galloping daily.

6. Spinoff – Showed excellent energy galloping out after his two most recent works and looks capable of moving well forward off the dull Derby experience over the sloppy track at Churchill Downs.

7. Sir Winston – Has had a good couple of weeks leading up to the race, both working and while galloping with enthusiasm on a regular basis. Seems to really enjoy the local surface.

8. Intrepid Heart – Not sure the blinkers he’s been training in recently have had that much of an impact, but his latest works have been good, and he is a son of Tapit, the sire of three of the last five Belmont winners.

9. War of Will – Has not turned in a recorded work since winning the Preakness. Was very aggressive early in his first two local gallops but settled a lot better Thursday. Cannot afford any hint of rankness while trying to get 1 1/2 miles Saturday.

10. Tacitus – Continues to improve daily in the morning. Likely to be the favorite off a couple of impressive local drills and good-looking subsequent gallops this week.