Trainer Eric Reed said things have been heavenly with Rich Strike since his 80-1 upset victory in the Kentucky Derby a little less than five weeks ago, and Rich Strike gave off every indication Monday that he's coming up to the Belmont Stakes in good order. He was alert, eager but not uncontrollable, and his chestnut coat glistened.
Five days before the 2016 Belmont Stakes, Bobby Flay purchased a minority interest in the 3-year-old Creator, who rewarded that investment with a nose victory in the Belmont. Monday, Flay bought a minority interest in the colt We the People, who will make his next start – potentially as the favorite – in Saturday's 154th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.
Ethereal Road, winner of the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 21, will not compete in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday after developing a quarter crack in his right front hoof, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Monday.
Howling Time was withdrawn from Belmont consideration by trainer Dale Romans early Monday, two days after the Not This Time colt breezed a half-mile in 48.80 seconds.
Golden Glider, the Peter Pan Stakes runner-up, completed his preparations for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes by working an easy half-mile in 49.94 seconds Sunday morning over Belmont Park’s main track.
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.
Fifteen years after he won the Belmont Stakes with a filly, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will try to do it again in the 154th running of the Belmont next Saturday.
With the two dirt tracks at Belmont Park still pretty wet Friday morning following Thursday's heavy afternoon rains, there was not much serious training going on in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 11, although Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike had his second day galloping over a sloppy main track.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike made an appearance on the Belmont training track, jogging twice clockwise around the one-mile oval under exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes alongside a pony. Rich Strike, who arrived here shortly after 1 a.m. following a 16-hour from Louisville, still had plenty of energy to want to train.
Creative Minister, third in the Preakness on May 21, and Ethereal Road, winner of the Sir Barton Stakes on the same day, returned to the work tab Tuesday morning as they prepare for a start in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes here June 11.
