J Boys Echo, Multiplier drill for Belmont Stakes
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A pair of Belmont Stakes contenders, J Boys Echo and Multiplier, were sent through final prerace works for the 1 1/2-mile classic just minutes apart Saturday morning at their respective Kentucky bases.
J Boys Echo went five furlongs in a minute flat at Churchill Downs shortly after Multiplier went a half-mile in 48.60 seconds at Keeneland. Both came amid perfect spring weather and over fast racetracks.
J Boys Echo, most recently 15th in the May 6 Kentucky Derby for the Albaugh Family Stable, breezed outside of his Dale Romans stablemate, Reedini, in splits of 23 and 48.40, with a six-furlong gallop-out time of 1:13.80. Tammy Fox was aboard.
“I think that’s the best he’s ever worked,” said Romans, who later confirmed that Robby Albarado will have the mount back for the Belmont, which will be run next Saturday for the 149th time at Belmont Park.
Albarado, who has been sidelined since April 23 with a lower-leg fracture sustained in a Keeneland spill, was recently cleared to resume riding. A winner of more than 5,000 races from nearly 32,000 career mounts, Albarado was aboard two workers for Romans on Saturday morning and said he is “feeling great. After 30,000 mounts, it doesn’t take me long to get back in the swing.”
Albarado rode J Boys Echo in three straight races, including a victory in the Gotham at Aqueduct in March, before he was replaced by Luis Saez for the Derby.
Belmont entries will be drawn Wednesday. Albarado’s first mount back is scheduled for Thursday at Churchill.
Just down the road in Lexington, Multiplier breezed closest to the rail when in company with his Brendan Walsh stablemate, War Union, edging away near the wire before going out in 1:01.20 and 1:15.80, according to Keeneland clocker Billy Pettingill.
Multiplier, most recently sixth in the May 20 Preakness after winning the Illinois Derby in his prior start, will be vanned to Louisville in time to join the sizable contingent of horses being flown Tuesday to New York for Belmont weekend. J Boys Echo and Classic Empire, the probable Belmont favorite who breezed Friday at Churchill, are among the others booked on that charter flight.
