ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Doug O’Neill, whose primary base is Southern California, was at Belmont Park Friday morning to oversee the training of about a dozen horses he has sent here for the spring/summer meet. Among them is the 3-year-old Fore Left, last year’s Tremont Stakes winner who is pointing to the Grade 1 Woody Stephens here on June 20. O’Neill said that owners Paul and Zillah Reddam wanted to have a New York division to separate horses in similar categories, especially 2-year-olds, from those in California. “It’s something we talked about for the last couple of years with all the uncertainty all over the place, splitting up a little bit and just having options in case one area isn’t going as well as you hoped,” O’Neill said. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Fore Left won the UAE 2000 Guineas in February in Dubai. He was pointing to the UAE Derby on March 28, but that card was canceled due to the COVID-19 situation. Though O’Neill didn’t mind stretching out Fore Left to 1 1/8 in the UAE Derby, he prefers the Woody Stephens, at seven furlongs, for his first start since February. “We love the seven-eighths, but we do hope two turns is in his future somewhere,” O’Neill said. “He’s a horse that’s always shown tons of talent. He was just a little immature mentally and I think we’re starting to see some maturity out of him. We’ll see.” On Thursday, Fore Left worked a sharp five furlongs over Belmont’s main track in 58.97 seconds in company with Buyer’s Remorse, a maiden filly. Fore Left, under Javier Castellano, was on the inside of his stablemate and galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.71. O’Neill said if all goes well he plans to maintain a New York presence at Saratoga as well.