Belmont winner Drosselmeyer back in training following ankle injury

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Drosselmeyer, unraced since winning the Belmont Stakes last June, has had two easy three-furlong breezes at Payson Park and could make his return to racing within a couple of months, said trainer Bill Mott.

Drosselmeyer has recovered from an ankle injury that led Mott to announce in early July that the colt was being withdrawn from consideration for the Travers Stakes and would miss the last half of 2010.

"We’re still a ways away with him, maybe six weeks from thinking about a race," said Mott. "But he’s doing well, he’s training every day, and he looks good, like he’s had a good vacation. I’d say all the handicap races around, a mile and an eighth and up, would be options for him."

Drosselmeyer had his first breeze on Dec. 23 at Payson, the training center near Indiantown, Fla., and came back with another on Dec. 31.

Drosselmeyer won a two-turn allowance race last January at Gulfstream Park but did not compile sufficient graded stakes earnings in two subsequent starts to make the Kentucky Derby field. He then ran second in the Dwyer before upsetting the 142nd Belmont at 13-1, giving Mott his first victory in a Triple Crown event.

The first major handicap race of the year is the $500,000 Donn Handicap on Feb. 5 at Gulfstream, a race Drosselmeyer won’t make.