Belmont Stakes workouts: California Chrome takes it easy

ELMONT, N.Y. – Activity among prospective Belmont Stakes starters was limited Monday, with almost half the field having turned in their final works Sunday. Only four potential Belmont runners trained at Belmont on Monday, under sunny skies and in perfect conditions. The quartet was led by California Chrome, who was 48 hours removed from his sensational work here Saturday.

California Chrome came onto the track at his usual time, 6 a.m., and, as expected, did little more than jog clockwise nearly one full rotation around the 1 1/2-mile Belmont oval near the outside fence. The Derby and Preakness winner is not the prettiest of movers, especially at a jog, but that seems irrelevant in light of his brilliant breeze over the weekend and his outstanding performances in the opening legs of the Triple Crown.

Tonalist did not have a walk day following Saturday’s five-furlong work and was able to return to his regular routine Monday. That means jogging clockwise to the seven-furlong pole, then reversing direction and galloping 1 1/4 miles, as he did Monday, or farther.

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And as he’s done on a regular basis over the past couple of weeks, Tonalist galloped at a fairly strong and steady pace, posting a series of 16-and-change eighth-mile splits until he was pulled up on the clubhouse bend while giving the impression that he came out of his work as sound and as happy as he went in.

Social Inclusion kept a scheduled visit to the starting gate Monday and, after loading willingly the first time, was a bit reluctant to go back into the stall when asked to do so again. Social Inclusion became a bit skittish once finally being coaxed back in, then tossed his head up violently, nearly into his rider’s face, as he was being led away from the gate, perhaps his way of showing his disapproval for the entire episode.

The gate crew informed Social Inclusion’s connections afterward that his presence will be required at least one more time before he competes here Saturday.

Kid Cruz, who usually trains and works over the training track, where he breezed last Friday, was sent to the main track to gallop Monday and will continue to train over “Big Sandy” the remainder of the week. Trainer Linda Rice said she would announce her final decision regarding Kid Cruz’s Belmont status Tuesday.

Phipps contenders drill

The two most notable works Monday came less than two minutes apart, contrasting half-mile drills by Close Hatches and Beholder, who will join Princess of Sylmar in the starting gate Saturday for a much-anticipated renewal of the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps.

Close Hatches was the first to work, and she looked terrific, just cruising through an easy half-mile in 47.13 seconds. She completed her final quarter in 23.37 on her own before galloping out five-eighths in 1:00.20 and pulling up six furlongs in 1:13.32. She appears to be coming up to a big effort over her home course.

Beholder, who has never raced at Belmont, turned in little more than an easy maintenance breeze with jockey Gary Stevens aboard, completing the distance in 50.01 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.79. Although she worked slowly, both Stevens and trainer Richard Mandella said Beholder is a different horse when working solo than in company, and that she accomplished exactly what they were looking for five days out from her Belmont Park debut.