Belmont Stakes clocker: We the People works a sharp half-mile
Belmont Park
Weather: Sunny
Track: Fast
Temperature: 64 degrees
ELMONT, N.Y. – There are seven likely Belmont Stakes starters currently stabled on the grounds at Belmont Park. Four of them turned in their final works for the final leg of the 2022 Triple Crown on Saturday morning, including WE THE PEOPLE, whose “buzz horse” status likely gained additional supporters after a sharp half-mile drill with his trainer, Rodolphe Brisset, aboard.
The skies were clear, and more important both the main and training tracks were fast here Saturday after having absorbed a good deal of moisture Thursday and into Friday morning. Both surfaces hosted a pair of Belmont Stakes workers apiece during a hectic five hours of training that also included plenty of action over the turf course.
We the People hit the main track shortly after 6 a.m., breezing four furlongs in 47.41 seconds, getting his final quarter in a swift 23.31, and not giving the appearance of traveling that fast while kept well within himself and several paths off the rail by Brisset through the final quarter-mile. The Peter Pan winner galloped out with plenty of energy, five furlongs in 1:00.17 before easing up six panels into the sweeping clubhouse turn in 1:14.37.
With not much other real speed in the prospective Belmont lineup as it now stands, it appears We the People should have his own way on the front end and could take some catching if able to repeat his Peter Pan performance stretching out another three furlongs next Saturday.
SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING also breezed over the main track about 45 minutes after We the People completed his work. In contrast, Skippylongstocking cruised a relatively slow but also very easy five furlongs in 1:02.56 with his new jockey, Manny Franco, in the saddle. Skippylongstocking, an even-running fifth in the Preakness, posted splits of 25.78 and 38.03 before easing up after six furlongs in 1:15.81 while pretty much in maintenance mode throughout.
The training track played host to the Todd Pletcher pair of MO DONEGAL and NEST a couple of hours later, the duo going in company once again with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking his regular seat astride Mo Donegal and his brother Jose up on Nest.
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Mo Donegal broke nearest the rail a couple of lengths in front, coasting through an easy 24.99 opening quarter with Nest drawing on even terms turning into the stretch. Mo Donegal subsequently regained the advantage in the run to the wire, edging about a length clear after a 49.89 half-mile, both going very easily throughout. Mo Donegal, the Wood Memorial winner, maintained a slight advantage on the gallop-out through five furlongs in 1:02.29 and three-quarters in 1:14.18 before easing up upon Pletcher’s direction via walkie-talkie after seven-eighths in 1:27.21.
Derby winner RICH STRIKE, who turned in his final serious Belmont Stakes prep on Monday prior to departing Churchill Downs, made another very favorable impression galloping nearly two miles this morning immediately after the renovation break. He seemed focused, with those ears pricked once again coming down the long stretch.
Only the real early birds caught a glimpse of CREATIVE MINISTER who trained, per usual, shortly after the main track opened at 5:15 a.m., looking none the worse for wear exiting his third-place effort in the Preakness. He was followed a short while later by Peter Pan runner-up GOLDEN GLIDER, who wasn’t asked to do much during a routine and relatively lackluster tour of the 1 1/2-mile oval.