Frammento works, still has eye on Derby

Frammento, still hoping to make the Kentucky Derby field after finishing fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes, returned to the work tab Thursday at Keeneland, going an easy four furlongs in 51.20 seconds under Sophie Doyle.

“You’ve just got to keep him together, that’s all,” trainer Nick Zito said of the maintenance move.

Frammento sits 23rd on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard and thus needs several defections to make the field. Should the colt not get into the Derby, Zito said he will aim for the second two legs of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes on May 16 and the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

“This is a Belmont Stakes horse,” Zito said. “He’s a true distance horse.”

Zito said he plans to give Frammento a more serious work next Saturday, April 25, at Keeneland.

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