Belmont Stakes workouts: Busy day on track for probables

Belmont Park: Main track/training track – Fast; Weather – Sunny; Temp – 50

ELMONT, N.Y. – What started out a relatively chilly morning heated up steadily as the day went on, both weather- and activity-wise for Belmont Stakes-bound 3-year-olds, six of whom worked during the course of a long morning, which began before 6:30 a.m. on the main track with Commanding Curve and ended more than three hours later over at the training track with an eye-catching drill by Wicked Strong.

The temperature struggled to get into the 50s when the main track opened at 5:30 a.m. but rose to near 70 by the time training hours ended. The main track was not as fast as it had been the previous morning during the opening session but sped up appreciably after the renovation break.

Work of the day

Wicked Strong (five furlongs in 59.17) was the last of the Belmont six to breeze Sunday and easily the most impressive. Coming out late, over a training track that had already been chewed up somewhat by dozens of previous workers, Wicked Strong had to wait briefly while a loose horse was collared on the track before finally breaking off at the five-furlong pole and settling into a nice, relaxed stride, completing his opening quarter in a reasonable 24.72 seconds. He then picked up the pace appreciably leaving the three-eighths pole due perhaps in part to the swift target he had inadvertently found himself about 30 to 40 yards behind at that point none other than last year’s Belmont Stakes winner, Palace Malice.

[bc_video_id:325949:]Incredibly, Wicked Strong shaded 11 for his next eighth, eased off the rail a bit turning for home, then continued to roll to the wire, completing his final three-eighths in 34.45 while never extended and with Palace Malice in clear sight all the way down the lane. Wicked Strong then continued on willingly into the turn, galloping out six panels in 1:13.08 before pulling up fairly abruptly midway on the bend. Hard to imagine trainer Jimmy Jerkens could have wished for anything better out of his improving 3-year-old just a week out from the Belmont.

::BELMONT STAKES WORKOUTS: Video analysis, news, and times

Commanding Curve (four furlongs in 47.20) was the first of the morning’s Belmont workers, going in company with the Tom Albertrani-trained Cost Effective. The pair eased away from the 4 1/2-furlong pole, but the work really began at the half-mile pole as per trainer Dallas Stewart’s order to the track clocker. Commanding Curve was well held outside his mate through an opening quarter in 24, then finished nice, posting a 23.20 final quarter while under some mild coaxing to forge about three parts of a length clear of his partner at the wire. He then was asked to go out another sixteenth of a mile beyond the finish line, before easing up to complete a five-furlong gallop out in 1:00.50. The Derby runner-up has made a very favorable impression since his recent arrival in New York and appears to be going into the Belmont on top of his game.[bc_video_id:325951:]

Ride On Curlin (seven furlongs in 1:28.03) broke off at the 6 1/2-furlong pole and seem unfazed when passed by a couple of gate workers less than a quarter-mile into his work. Ride On Curlin was well held through a 51.78 opening half-mile, then began to gradually pick up the pace once turning for home. He was really pressed on a sixteenth-mile out from the wire, responding with a 11.96 final furlong over what had become a very fast track by that time, before galloping out a mile in 1:40.99. The work was somewhat reminiscent of his final drill prior to his troubled seventh-place effort in the Kentucky Derby.[bc_video_id:325950:]

Matterhorn (four furlongs in 49.74) broke off about a length behind and outside Commissioner with jockey John Velazquez up and put in a seemingly routine maintenance work over the training track, drawing even with his partner at the wire while never asked throughout. Matterhorn appeared to have a slight edge galloping out to the seven-furlong pole, after which Commissioner seemed stronger of the duo continuing out around the bend.[bc_video_id:325952:]

Commissioner (four furlongs in 49.94) had jockey Javier Castellano up while breezing inside Matterhorn and was also in hand the entire way, the pair completing their final quarter in 24.39 before galloping out pretty much as a team. As mentioned above, however, Commissioner did seem to have a little more energy as the stablemates continued out around the turn.

Matuszak (five furlongs in 1:00.92) turned in a surprisingly impressive performance this morning. A bit unfocused on occasion during recent gallops, he was all business when putting blinkers on for the work. Going in company with Maxiumus Mike, Matuszak cruised through a 26.30 opening quarter, then responded to just some light encouragement to finish extremely well, completing his final three furlongs in 34.62 while pulling well clear of his partner, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.80. Although he appears overmatched on paper, Matuszak gave every indication he’ll go into the Belmont on top of his game.