John the Beer Man tunes up for Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
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ELMONT, N.Y. – John The Beer Man, a contender for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, worked a half-mile in 48.97 seconds over the Belmont Park training track Friday morning, doing so just before the rain that was forecast arrived.
John the Beer Man went in splits of 12.79 seconds and 24.55 and came home in 24.42. Trainer Rob Atras had thought about working John the Beer Man on turf, but for a second straight week the Belmont turf course was not available for turf works, this time due to weather.
“What he did today was perfect. He seems to really like this training track, he seems to work really good on it,” Atras said. “I was happy with him. He was moving good; nice big stride on him, galloped out good.”
John the Beer Man won the Grade 2 Troy Stakes on Aug. 9 at Saratoga before finishing seventh, beaten four lengths, in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint on Sept. 5.
“Nothing really went well for him that day. He didn’t break really sharp, he seemed to struggle with the ground,” Atras said. “Rather than push him, [jockey] Kendrick [Carmouche] realized he was struggling, so he kind of let him get into the race and turning for home he said he was switching leads and not really getting a hold of it.”
Atras said John the Beer Man would likely have one more work at Belmont before shipping to Keeneland and likely will get there just ahead of the Oct. 27 deadline for horses to be on the grounds.
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