John Velazquez has been chosen by trainer Michael McCarthy and owners John and Diane Fradkin to ride Preakness winner Rombauer in the Belmont Stakes on June 5, McCarthy said Saturday night.
Rebel’s Romance, the UAE Derby winner, had his second timed workout in four days, going five furlongs in 1:01.05 over the Belmont Park main track just after 5:30 a.m.
In the right way, Rock Your World has been a “boring” colt the last few weeks at Santa Anita. Rock Your World rebounded quickly from the loss at Churchill Downs and has been in steady training this month.
Todd Pletcher liked what he saw from Known Agenda on Friday morning when the Florida Derby winner went five furlongs in 1:02.53 over the Belmont main track in preparation for the Belmont Stakes. Pletcher also worked Bourbonic, the Wood Memorial winner, and Overtook, third in the Peter Pan Stakes, a half-mile together in 48.85 seconds.
While everyone waits for the Medina Spirit controversy to play itself out, Brad Cox is going about everyday business at Churchill Downs with Mandaloun, the 2021 Derby runner-up who would become the official winner if Medina Spirit ultimately is disqualified for a positive post-race test for a banned raceday medication.
Flavien Prat is a man in demand. He won the Preakness aboard Rombauer, but he also rides Hot Rod Charlie, who crossed the wire third in the Kentucky Derby, and there is the strong likelihood he will be on Hot Rod Charlie if, as currently planned, both go in the Belmont Stakes on June 5.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will be barred from entering and stabling horses at New York Racing Association tracks indefinitely, the company announced Monday afternoon.
Rombauer, the Preakness winner, arrived just before 10 a.m. Monday at Belmont Park where he will soon begin preparations for an expected start in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 5.
Rock Your World, the Santa Anita Derby winner who was 17th in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Friday at Santa Anita for a potential start in the Belmont Stakes on June 5 at Belmont Park.
Hot Rod Charlie, third by a length behind Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, jogged at Santa Anita on Friday, beginning preparation for an expected start in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 5.
