Belmont Stakes workouts: Wicked Strong, Ride On Curlin display high energy

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Friday provided Belmont Stakes starters one final opportunity to really stretch their legs prior to the main event, with all 11 3-year-olds set to contest the final leg of this year’s Triple Crown finally on the grounds following the belated arrival of General a Rod and Medal Count the previous afternoon.

General a Rod and Medal Count were the first and last of the Belmont runners to train Friday, with Medal Count cruising around at a sub-two-minute clip before being angled farther off the rail and finally coming to hand during the final six furlongs of his late-morning training session.

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Wicked Strong has done all his work over at the training track since his impressive five-furlong drill Sunday, and he too was full of energy Friday, to the point that he became a bit rank, throwing his head as his rider tried to keep him from doing too much the day before the main event. Like Medal Count, Wicked Strong finally settled into a more relaxed stride through the final three-eighths or so of his 1 3/8-mile gallop.

Ride On Curlin also was a handful for his rider for the second consecutive morning, showing the same high energy level he had prior to his seven-furlong work here Sunday, a positive sign considering that he had not been quite so aggressive earlier in the week.

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As for California Chrome , he embarked on what has been his usual journey this week, jogging a half-mile and then galloping 2 3/8 miles, plodding along to the top of the stretch before picking up the pace down the three-furlong straightaway. Another day and no signs that the five-week grind has taken any toll on the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner.

Samraat jogged three miles over a sloppy strip Thursday and had another busy morning Friday, jogging a mile before schooling in the starting gate and galloping 1 3/8 miles. Samraat was purposefully kept well off the rail to harness some of the good energy he has shown here over the past two mornings.

Tonalist and Commanding Curve have been robot-like while training here over the past several days, both backing up nearly a mile at the jog before reversing directions and putting in strong, steady gallops of 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 miles daily. Tonalist’s penultimate furlong was once again his swiftest.