O'Neill sets up New York division, is pointing Fore Left to Woody Stephens

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.

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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.