Epicharis preparing for long trip to New York for Belmont Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Epicharis, the Japanese-based runner who will contest the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 10, entered quarantine in Japan on Thursday at the Miho Training Center. He must be isolated for one week before shipping to New York on June 1.

Prior to entering quarantine, Epicharis breezed five furlongs in 1:05.20 over an uphill wood-chip course on Wednesday, according to trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara. He was timed in fractions of 12.60 seconds for an eighth, 36.80 for three furlongs, and 50.70 for a half-mile.

“I am pleased with his work,” Hagiwara told Japanese officials. “He looks fine, and he moved sharply. He has been doing well. Considering the long trip to Belmont via Anchorage and Chicago, I will give him one more timed work in Japan at the same course on Sunday, and the last one will be at Belmont on Tuesday or Wednesday the week of the race.”

Epicharis has won four of five starts, losing the UAE Derby by a nose to Thunder Snow in March.

Epicharis will be racing for a $1 million bonus put up by the New York Racing Association for a Japanese-based horse who can win the Belmont.

Meanwhile, the Belmont Stakes field grew by one, as trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Thursday that True Timber, third in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico last Saturday, is being pointed to the race. True Timber, who has one win from seven starts, is owned by Calumet Farm, which ran three horses in the Kentucky Derby and two in the Preakness. Calumet also owns Patch, the 14th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, who is also possible for the Belmont.

As of Thursday, as many as 15 horses were under consideration for the Belmont: Classic Empire, Conquest Mo Money, Epicharis, Gormley, Irap, Irish War Cry, J Boys Echo, Lookin At Lee, Meantime, Multiplier, Patch, Senior Investment, Tapwrit, True Timber, and Twisted Tom.

The Belmont field is limited to 16 starters. The largest field in Belmont Stakes history was 15 in 1983, when Caveat gave Woody Stephens the second of his five consecutive Belmont wins.

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