The defections of undefeated Grade 1 winners Charlatan and Maxfield from the June 20 Belmont Stakes had little impact on trainer Barclay Tagg, trainer of two-time Grade 1 winner and now incontrovertible Belmont Stakes favorite Tiz the Law.
Trainer Brendan Walsh said Monday that Maxfield will skip the Belmont Stakes to wait instead for the Blue Grass Stakes on July 11 at Keeneland, the colt's home base.
A new and serious player for the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 20 may have emerged Thursday when Tap It to Win rolled to a five-length victory in a first-level allowance race at Belmont Park.
Max Player, the Grade 3 Withers winner, put in a sharp workout Thursday morning over the Belmont Park main track going five furlongs in 1:00.85 and proceeded to gallop out six furlongs in 1:12.38 in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 20.
With the Belmont Stakes on June 20 an option for his next start, Pneumatic – third most recently in the Matt Winn Stakes – has been nominated to the Triple Crown, trainer Steve Asmussen said.
A decision on whether Maxfield will run in the Belmont Stakes likely will come “in the latter half of this week,” trainer Brendan Walsh said Monday.
Trainer Todd Pletcher’s trio of expected Belmont Stakes horses all put in workouts Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs, with Dr Post looking particularly impressive in his drill. The Belmont Stakes will be run June 20 at 1 1/8 miles.
Charlatan, winner of the first division of the Arkansas Derby in his stakes debut May 2, had an initial test sample come back positive for an undisclosed medication, multiple sources told Daily Racing Form. If confirmed by a second test, it could result in his disqualification.
The pressing question will linger for the next few days, if not longer. Will Maxfield run next in the Belmont Stakes or forgo a Triple Crown chance by waiting for something like the Blue Grass Stakes?
Despite South Florida being inundated by rain Sunday morning, Kentucky Derby candidates Tiz the Law and Shivaree – the first- and second-place finishers, respectively, in this year’s Grade 1 Florida Derby – were able to get in five-furlong works in preparation for a potential rematch four weeks down the road in the Belmont Stakes.
