Rain, at times extremely heavy, turned what was already expected to be a quiet morning into an even quieter one at Belmont Park for the 11 prospective Belmont Stakes starters on the grounds here Monday.
As expected, Sunday morning proved to be a long and busy one on the Belmont Stakes watch. The action started with Vyjack the moment the main track opened at 5:30 and didn’t end until Incognito completed his work over at the training track almost 4 1/2 hours later.
If there was any doubt about Orb’s starting status for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes – and there really wasn’t – it was removed early Sunday morning when the Kentucky Derby winner worked a solid half-mile in 48.30 seconds over a lightning-quick main track at Belmont Park.
Belmont Stakes prospect Always in a Tiz, who has not raced in two months or worked in five weeks, made a good impression during a Saturday morning workout at Belmont Park.
The road to the Kentucky Derby for Always in a Tiz was full of potholes. A troubled trip in one prep, a disdain for a sloppy track in another, and an absolute debacle in a third kept the horse from making it to the Run for the Roses. The connections of Always in a Tiz are hopeful their winter – and early spring – of discontent are behind their 3-year-old and are hoping for a dramatic change of fortune in the 145th Belmont Stakes to be run next Saturday.
Trainer Ken McPeek revealed Saturday that he is seriously considering entering Frac Daddy in the Belmont Stakes.
Having not ridden at Belmont Park since 2005, Gary Stevens – who rides Preakness winner Oxbow in Saturday’s 145th Belmont Stakes – said he is coming to New York early to reacquaint himself with the 1 1/2-mile oval.
A pivotal morning looms at Belmont Park on Sunday, as several leading contenders for the 145th Belmont Stakes next Saturday, including Kentucky Derby winner Orb and all of trainer Todd Pletcher’s prospective runners, are scheduled for their final workouts.
Kentucky Derby winner Orb, as well as all five of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Belmont Stakes prospects, had easy gallops Friday morning at Belmont Park.
With next week’s Countdown the season finale for 2013 and our look at the Belmont Stakes contenders, this penultimate edition will break format and offer something unique to the eight-year history of the series. This week we’re going to review the class of 2013 by category with a series of best-of lists.
