Forza Di Oro works half-mile, possible for Alydar Stakes in August

Forza Di Oro, unraced since a victory in the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct last November, is working his way back to the races. On Sunday, he worked a half-mile in 49.38 seconds over the Belmont training track, his fourth workout of the year.

Following the Discovery, trainer Bill Mott was pointing Forza Di Oro to the Pegasus at Gulfstream in late January. The horse suffered a chip fracture in an ankle that needed to be surgically removed.

Mott said Forza Di Oro probably wouldn’t be ready until Saratoga. One race that he would be eligible for is the $120,000 Alydar Stakes on Aug. 6.

Meanwhile, Modernist, winner of the Grade 3 Excelsior at Aqueduct and runner-up in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on May 14, worked five furlongs in 1:00.02 Sunday morning at Belmont Park, the fastest of 16 moves at that distance on the training track.

Mott said he is considering the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows on July 2 as a potential next race.