Governor Malibu sticking with the big boys

ELMONT, N.Y. – Governor Malibu ran well enough in the Belmont Stakes to keep the New York-bred under consideration for some of the higher-quality races in the 3-year-old division this summer, trainer Christophe Clement said Thursday.

Governor Malibu finished fourth in the Belmont, beaten four lengths by Creator. He saved all the ground under Joel Rosario and altered course in the stretch after Rosario thought about going inside, only to have the room closed when Gettysburg came back to the inside after drifting out a path turning for home.

“I thought he ran very well,” Clement said. “He came back in good order. We’ll give him a small break. As long as he looks well and trains well, we’ll look at the better races this summer.”

Clement said the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 30 is “the most logical choice, but it’s a bit too early to be sure.”

Clement said Governor Malibu is in the process of jogging for 10 days before resuming regular training.

If he were to run in the Jim Dandy and not fare well, Governor Malibu could return to New York-bred company in the $250,000 Albany on Aug. 26, a day before the $1.25 million Travers.

Meanwhile, Clement has plenty of options for Pure Sensation, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Jaipur. Pure Sensation, whose time of 1:06.76 is believed to be a world record for six furlongs on turf, could go next in one of two spots at Saratoga – the Lucky Coin on July 25 or the Troy on Aug. 20 – or the Grade 3, $300,000 Turf Monster at Parx on Sept. 5. Pure Sensation won the Turf Monster last year.

“When he’s right, he always shows he’s top class,” Clement said. “He’s not an easy horse to keep sound.”