Belmont Stakes: Creator is good to go

Trainer Steve Asmussen on Thursday confirmed Arkansas Derby winner Creator as a definite starter for the Belmont Stakes on June 11. Creator finished a troubled 13th in the Kentucky Derby after coming rapidly to hand this winter and spring in Arkansas and winning the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park by 1 1/4 lengths over Suddenbreakingnews, another likely Belmont runner.

Creator worked back nine days after the Derby, going an easy half, and worked five furlongs Monday in 1:02. Asmussen, who trains Creator for WinStar Farm, said Creator will work Monday at his Churchill Downs base and ship to New York on Tuesday. The work will be with company, Asmussen said, but not especially demanding.

“We’re there already. He has a great fitness level, and I like the rhythm he’s in,” Asmussen said.

Creator is a one-run closer and was only starting to make his move around the far turn in the Derby when he got into trouble, losing his momentum.

“He came back with a couple superficial cuts but nothing serious, and he’s rebounded nicely,” said Asmussen. “It’s the Derby. You wish you’d have had a little cleaner trip is all.”

Asmussen said he’ll ship Holy Boss for the True North and Counterforce for the Woody Stephens on the Belmont undercard along with Creator next week.

Exaggerator, who will be heavily favored to win the Belmont on the strength of his second in the Derby and win in the Preakness, remains at Pimlico Race Course and was scheduled to have a walk day Thursday before returning to the track for exercise on Friday. Exaggerator is scheduled to ship Sunday from Pimlico to Belmont.

Trainer Tom Amoss said a decision on Mo Tom’s status for the Belmont will be announced Monday. Todd Pletcher said that Destin and Stradivari, his two Belmont possibles, are “both doing well.” Destin, who was sixth in the Derby, is an intended Belmont runner, but Pletcher said he wants to wait to decide whether Stradivari, fourth in the Preakness while making his stakes debut, will run in the race.