Belmont Park Weather: Cloudy Track: Fast Temp.: 67   ELMONT, N.Y. – Finally, some serious action to report on the Belmont Stakes watch, with nine of the potential 12 starters on the grounds. Three worked Friday and five others visited the racetrack for varying degrees of exercise. Skies were overcast, and some light rain fell briefly after the renovation break, with both the main and training tracks remaining fast throughout the morning. GOVERNOR MALIBU put in the lone breeze over the main track in company with stablemate Silver Beach, a 3-year-old who won his maiden going nine furlongs on turf in his last start. Governor Malibu, equipped with blinkers, broke off at the half-mile pole, two lengths behind his target, with Joel Rosario aboard, keeping his distance through a swift 22.99-second opening quarter. Governor Malibu, the Peter Pan Stakes runner-up, began to edge closer once settling into the stretch but then had to be put to urging to finally stick his head in front of his well-held stablemate, hitting the wire in 47.73 for a half-mile. He then maintained a narrow advantage while being asked to complete five furlongs in 1:00.29, continuing out on nearly even terms in 1:14.14 for six furlongs. :: BELMONT STAKES: News updates, field, and videos All in all, it was a decent move but not the type that would alter anyone’s notion of his chances of winning the Belmont. [bc_video_id:385206:]Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out his two Belmont starters, DESTIN and STRADIVARI, to breeze over the training track, both in company but in different teams. Destin, with Javier Castellano up and with blinkers on, was the first to go, working with the 3-year-old stakes winner Awesome Gent. The pair broke off at a bit of a leisurely pace, with Pletcher instructing his riders to pick it up just a bit after an opening furlong in 13.28. The duo did just that, completing a quarter in 25.22 before finishing up with good energy on even terms, without urging, in 49.51. Destin’s ears were pricked at the wire. The two then galloped out willingly, five-eighths in 1:02.90, six furlongs in 1:15.40. John Velazquez was aboard Stradivari, who broke off a half-length behind and outside another 3-year-old stakes-winning stablemate, Decorated Soldier. Stradivari was well held early through a 25.53 quarter and finished about a head back after a half in 50.51 before asserting his superiority on the gallop-out. He edged a length clear after five furlongs in 1:03.28 before steadily widening his advantage and continuing out very strongly, six furlongs in 1:15.57, up seven-eighths in 1:28.51. Both works seemed to be designed as maintenance half-miles with the accent on the gallop-out. Both Destin and Stradivari produced the desired results, with Stradivari earning himself a confirmed spot in the Belmont. Following a day off Thursday, EXAGGERATOR was back to the track Friday, galloping an easy 1 1/2 miles under showers. Exaggerator seemed to need a little motivation from his rider on occasion and was scheduled to stretch his legs a lot more with another open gallop Saturday. The Dale Romans pair of Preakness runner-up CHERRY WINE and BRODY’S CAUSE both galloped 1 3/4 miles after the renovation break. Cherry Wine was well held by his rider from the outset, while Brody’s Cause went at a little quicker clip, although at a relatively leisurely pace. LANI had another lengthy session on the racetrack, making three complete circuits of the 1 1/2-mile oval, twice walking and once at a fairly lively gallop. CREATOR galloped locally for the first time, going a mile over the training track shortly after 6 a.m.