Japanese invader Epicharis stretches legs, readies for Belmont Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Epicharis, the intriguing Japanese challenger in the Belmont Stakes, was released from quarantine shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and went straight to the training track at Belmont Park, where he had a private training session under the watchful eye of trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara.
Epicharis was on his toes and wasted little time breaking off at a jog after standing briefly near the quarter-pole gap. He jogged/walked about five furlongs clockwise over the one-mile oval before reversing direction and galloping an easy seven-eighths, looking eager and enthusiastic the entire time he was on the racetrack.
Hagiwara, through an interpreter, said he felt Epicharis looked good and got over the track in much the same manner he does when training at home, which is what he was looking for first and foremost on Saturday.
"He had a good trip here and does not appear to have lost much weight," said Hagiwara. "He'll likely go to the main track and train faster and further [Sunday]."
Hagiwara said he hadn’t decided how far Epicharis would train on Sunday, adding that he plans to breeze him five furlongs here either Tuesday or Wednesday. He said he believed the 1 1/2-mile distance of the Belmont Stakes was very good for his horse.
"He definitely wants to go further than 10 furlongs," said Hagiwara, who has 55 horses under his care in Japan.
Epicharis was perfect in four starts in his native Japan before suffering his only setback when second, beaten a nose by Thunder Snow, in the Group 2 UAE Derby on March 25 at Meydan.
