Drosselmeyer works, Make Music for Me arrives
ELMONT, N.Y. - Drosselmeyer, the runner-up to Fly Down in the Dwyer Stakes here on May 8, worked four furlongs in 47.64 seconds Monday morning as he continues preparation for a start in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 5.
Trainer Bill Mott caught the final quarter of the work in 23.60 seconds.
"For him being solo he worked very good," Mott said.
While disappointed Drosselmeyer was beaten six lengths by Fly Down in the Dwyer, Mott thought it was a useful prep race.
"It wasn't a horrible race," Mott said. "We gave up a little bit at the start. He slipped leaving there, he may have lost a little bit of position."
Kent Desormeaux, who rode Drosselmeyer in the Dwyer, will be replaced, but no decision on his replacement had been made as of Monday.
Meanwhile, Make Music for Me, the fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, arrived in New York Monday following a short flight from Kentucky. Make Music for Me had been stabled at Keeneland since shortly after the Derby. He worked twice over Keeneland's synthetic surface, including a five-furlong move in 1:03.20 on Sunday.
Trainer Alexis Barba said she wanted to give Make Music for Me a chance to get accustomed to Belmont's main track. The Kentucky Derby was Make Music for Me's first start on a dirt surface, albeit the Churchill Downs track was sloppy. Make Music for Me has yet to run on a dry dirt track.
"I've heard too many stories," Barba said. "You better get two works over it; that's the theory."
Last year, trainer Tim Ice got three works into Summer Bird over Belmont's main track before upsetting the Belmont Stakes at 11-1.
Barba said Make Music for Me would work on Sunday. She also confirmed that Joel Rosario, who rode the horse in the Derby, would be back on for the Belmont.
Trainer Richard Mandella said Monday that Setsuko "is on the fence" regarding the Belmont after a slow workout on Sunday at Santa Anita. Mandella said he would work the colt again this weekend before deciding whether to ship or not.