Next stop for Tonalist: New York

Tonalist, last year’s Belmont Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, will be returning to Belmont Park from Florida this weekend, trainer Christophe Clement said Monday, though where the multiple Grade 1 stakes winner will make his return to the races is still not decided.

Tonalist, unraced since running fifth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, worked six furlongs in 1:16 on Monday at Payson Park, Clement said. It is the second straight week that Tonalist worked six furlongs in 1:16.

Clement said he and owner Robert Evans will soon get together to decide where Tonalist will make his return. Tonalist is nominated to the Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester Stakes, a one-turn, one-mile race at Belmont on May 2 that also has been mentioned as a return spot for 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice. Tonalist is 3 for 3 at Belmont.

Clement mentioned the Westchester as a possibility as well as the Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special on the Preakness undercard. Under the conditions of the Pimlico Special, the owner and trainer of a horse who won a Triple Crown race would each receive a $50,000 bonus. The Pimlico Special is run at 1 3/16 miles, a tough distance for a horse’s first start in 5 1/2 months.

“He will be coming back to Belmont this weekend,” Clement said. “Wherever we go, he’ll be ready to run.”

Clement is also considering his options for Red Vine, who won a stakes-caliber allowance race over the main track going a mile April 1. He shipped back to Payson Park after that race and was due to arrive at Belmont on Tuesday. He could run in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Excelsior at 1 1/4 miles at Aqueduct.

“It’s a little bit quick, but I’m running out of options,” said Clement, who noted that he needed to talk with owners Jon and Sarah Kelly. “It is possible to run Red Vine in that race.”

Clement said he wasn’t sure what will be next for Stellar Path, who made a successful U.S. debut by winning last Friday’s $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes. One option is the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay on May 9, but Clement said he might run Discreet Marq in that spot.