Belmont workout report: Bandage comes loose as Social Inclusion trains
ELMONT, N.Y. – You know it’s a slow day on the Belmont Stakes workout watch when the biggest news of the morning was either Social Inclusion’s bandage unraveling as he neared the completion of another routine 1 3/8-mile gallop or the absence of Wicked Strong, who merely walked the shed row Thursday.
You can pretty much set your watch by Tonalist and California Chrome, who hit the track regularly at 6 each morning. California Chrome, however, was a bit later to the party than usual Thursday after taking some time to visit the paddock prior to making his way down the paddock tunnel. The Derby and Preakness winner even stopped for several minutes to pose for photographers before finally stepping onto the track at 6:15 a.m.
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One thing about California Chrome, nothing seems to faze him. He stood perfectly calm and still while being photographed, and he has been just as cool and collected on the racetrack itself. As was the case the previous morning, California Chrome just ambled back to the half-mile pole and barely appeared to get out of a jog once turning around and beginning to gallop, dawdling through 22-second and 23-second eighth miles until he came back around to the stretch. He did pick up the pace at that point, continuing on a little farther than usual, pulling up on the clubhouse turn after going 2 1/4 miles.
Social Inclusion still seems to be acclimating himself to the 1 1/2-mile Belmont oval. As was the case Wednesday, he switched back to his left lead inside the sixteenth pole and then back to his right once passing the wire, doing so both times around. His left hind bandage came loose as he passed the finish line the second time, although he continued to gallop another quarter-mile, fortunately without incident, before pulling up. His exercise rider jumped off at that point, removed the bandage, and, after remounting, was led out the gap by Social Inclusion’s groom.
Tonalist and Ride On Curlin continue to make favorable impressions. Tonalist galloped a strong 1 3/8 miles, the final mile from the six-furlong pole into the clubhouse turn in 2:06. Ride On Curlin started out at a very leisurely pace, much in the same manner of California Chrome, but really picked it up once turning into the long homestretch, covering his final half-mile at a two-minute clip in 1:00 and change.