Bourbon War, last in Belmont Stakes, might try turf

ELMONT, N.Y. – Bourbon War, who finished last in the Belmont Stakes after running eighth in the Preakness, could make his next start on turf, trainer Mark Hennig said Wednesday.

Hennig noted that My Conquestadory, the dam of Bourbon War, was “a miler on turf.” She won the Grade 2 Summer Stakes as a first-time starter on turf and came back to win the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland when that track had a synthetic surface.

Hennig said Bourbon War would likely get a month off before resuming training. Hennig mentioned the $100,000 Better Talk Now, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds on Aug. 25 at Saratoga, as a possible spot to try turf.

Tax possible for Haskell

Tax, who finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes, could be considered for the Haskell Invitational on July 20 at Monmouth Park, trainer Danny Gargan said Wednesday.

Tax was beaten three lengths in the Belmont after stalking and failing to pass pacesetter Joevia. Tax was making his first start with glue-on shoes on both front feet, and Gargan believes it impacted how well he ran and how well he came out of the race.

“He came out of this race better than he’s come out of any race,” Gargan said. “If I put those glue-ons on a month earlier, he might have won the Belmont.”

Meanwhile, Gargan’s multiple stakes-winning mare Divine Miss Grey worked a half-mile in 48.92 seconds Wednesday morning over the Belmont Park training track. It was her first work since she finished eighth of nine in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Gargan said Divine Miss Grey came out of that race sick.

Gargan said he’s not sure where he will bring Divine Miss Grey back, but he didn’t rule out trying turf at some point. Divine Miss Grey has raced on turf twice, finishing second in an allowance over yielding ground at Belmont.

“If you look up and she’s in a mile turf race, don’t be shocked,” Gargan said. “Can you imagine her speed going a two-turn mile on turf? She’d be deadly.”