Rich Strike had his second and final workout between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes when breezing five furlongs in 59 seconds between races Monday at Churchill Downs.
Forbidden Kingdom, last of six as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9, recently resumed racetrack training after being sidelined with a swollen throat. The illness was diagnosed after the loss in the Santa Anita Derby, which put an end to any plans for a start in a Triple Crown race for Forbidden Kingdom.
The best part of finishing second in the Peter Pan Stakes was that it earned Golden Glider a fees-paid berth into the June 11 Belmont Stakes. So, to trainer Mark Casse, it makes pointing the horse to the Belmont Stakes a virtual no-brainer.
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When it comes to the 154th Belmont Stakes on June 11, the connections of the filly Nest are letting her try to sell them on the idea of running. Friday, after the fog had lifted at Belmont Park, Nest took another step toward making that decision a little clearer with the way she went in a stamina-building workout alongside stablemate and possible Belmont Stakes favorite Mo Donegal.
Howling Time is being considered for the Belmont Stakes off a resounding recent allowance victory, although trainer Dale Romans cautioned the colt might run back the same weekend in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Eric Reed began this week with 9,115 starts spread among 44 different tracks in his 37-year training career, but zero at Pimlico. And after watching the 147th Preakness from his old Kentucky home Saturday evening, he has no regrets.
Headed by Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, who was purposely kept out of the Preakness Stakes last Saturday at Pimlico, a field of 10 is currently under consideration for the June 11 Belmont Stakes, the final leg of what has been an historically unusual Triple Crown series.
Rich Strike was sent through his first breeze since his monumental upset of the Kentucky Derby when going a purposeful half-mile in 47.20 seconds Saturday morning over a fast Churchill Downs surface.
This Saturday, the Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath will take on the boys in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. In three weeks, Kentucky Oaks runner-up Nest may take on the boys in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.
Following a disappointing result in the Arkansas Derby last month when nothing went his way, We the People had everything his own way Saturday at Belmont Park as he galloped to a 10 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes, a result that likely earns him a spot in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 11.
