Frosted impresses in Belmont work

Belmont Park

Weather: Clear

Track: Fast

Temp: 64

ELMONT, N.Y. – Friday has been the work day of choice for the majority of the Belmont Stakes contenders stabled on the grounds. For the second Friday in a row, trainer Todd Pletcher worked his Belmont trio of Materiality, Carpe Diem, and Madefromlucky, while Kiaran McLaughlin followed suit, keeping Frosted on the same schedule with an impressive half-mile breeze after the renovation break.

The weather continues to be picture perfect, with clear skies and temperatures in the low 60s when the track opened at 5:30 a.m.

The four Belmont workers all did virtually the same thing Friday, breezing a half-mile in company, galloping out five-eighths, and pulling up six furlongs on the point of the clubhouse turn. And all four turned in similar final times, ranging between 47.68 and 47.90 seconds. But to observers, the works didn’t all look the same.

Frosted was the most impressive of the quartet. Working in company with the older, multiple graded stakes winner Tamarkuz for the second straight week, Frosted broke off nearest the rail and a half-length in front, both posting a sharp 23.42-second opening quarter while well in reserve.

As was the case the previous week and is common for most workers trained by McLaughlin, the two were kept three to four paths off the inner rail approaching and entering the stretch. Once straightened away, they continued on with good energy, both well held and with plenty left in the tank after a half-mile in 47.87, with Frosted maintaining his half-length advantage at the wire.

They then galloped out very willingly, five-eighths in 1:00.25, before pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.80. Tamarkuz surged a bit, sticking his head in front after five panels, but Frosted regained a narrow advantage as the team began easing up into the turn.

This is the best move I’ve seen from Frosted either prior to or coming out of his sneaky-good performance in the Kentucky Derby, and it perhaps indicates that he’s capable of moving forward off that effort in the Belmont.

Materiality, with John Velazquez up, worked in company with his regular partner, Stanford, breaking off a half-length behind and nearest the rail after getting hot while warming up. The two familiar workmates posted an opening quarter in 24.40 while nudged along just a tad, switched leads on cue, and finished with good energy, although Materiality was unable to get even with Stanford despite being urged along some nearing the wire and again on the gallop-out. The final time for the team was 47.68, out five-eighths in 59.91, and up in 1:13.62.

It certainly wasn’t a bad work for Materiality, and horses nearest the rail, in company, might have been at a bit of a disadvantage here Friday. But it just wasn’t quite up to the high standards he’s set in all previous breezes either prior to and since the Derby.

Carpe Diem, with Velazquez aboard, and Madefromlucky breezed together for the second week in a row, this time reversing starting positions, with Carpe Diem on the outside and Madefromlucky on the rail. Both horses got extremely hot while jogging prior to the work, Carpe Diem more so while, as usual, warming up alongside a pony.

Breaking off almost on top of the half-mile pole, Carpe Diem and Madefromlucky seemed a bit aggressive early but were reined in nicely to post early splits of 13.03 and 24.58 for the opening quarter. Carpe Diem then proved clearly best of the pair in the run to the wire, with Madefromlucky unable to match strides despite being sticked a couple of times near the sixteenth pole.

Carpe Diem finished a length in front after a half in 47.70, although he was tossing his head about some and drifting slightly approaching the finish line. Velazquez was able to straighten Carpe Diem for the gallop-out, with Carpe Diem extending his advantage over Madefromlucky after five furlongs in 1:00.23 before pulling up in 1:13.85.

Although Carpe Diem at least finished and galloped out with some interest, neither horse was overly impressive Friday. Madefromlucky certainly regressed after showing much better in company the previous week, while Carpe Diem’s quirkiness and apparent loss of focus nearing the wire, along with his getting hot prior to the work, certainly wasn’t what you’d like to see heading into such a demanding race as the Belmont.