Hollywood Park: Rousing Sermon may be back for Belmont Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Rousing Sermon finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, but could be back in the Triple Crown for the Belmont Stakes by the end of this weekend, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Depending on how Rousing Sermon works at Betfair Hollywood Park on Friday, and the results of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the Belmont could be an option. Rousing Sermon races for breeders Larry and Marianne Williams and has won 2 of 10 starts and $404,000.

“We’ll see what kind of shape everyone is in,” Hollendorfer said of the rivals.

“I think Larry would like to try the Belmont, if we can do it.”

Rousing Sermon has not worked since the Kentucky Derby, in which he was beaten 8 3/4 lengths by I’ll Have Another.

“I wanted to give him some time between shipping and working,” Hollendorfer said. “I’ve got a workout pattern lined up for the Belmont.”

Earlier this year, Rousing Sermon was third in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and fourth in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

If Rousing Sermon does not start in the Belmont Stakes, Hollendorfer said the $150,000 Swaps Stakes for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles at Hollywood Park on July 4 is an alternative.