Sir Barton top pair will skip Belmont

Corporate Power and Gould’s Gold, separated by a nose at the wire of Saturday’s Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico, will likely be graded stakes-bound at some point this summer, but neither are targeting the Belmont Stakes on June 8.

Shug McGaughey, trainer of Corporate Power, said his horse “still has a lot to learn,” but he was naturally pleased with the outcome Saturday.

“He’s coming along, he showed he’s got some ability,” McGaughey said. “He needs to race and learn. He’s spotty in his races. I think he wants to go a little farther than that on his best race, too.”

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McGaughey added blinkers to Corporate Power’s equipment Friday. Asked if he felt that made a difference, McGaughey said “not a whole lot.”

Corporate Power is eligible for the $135,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga on July 19. That 1 1/8-mile race is open to 3-year-olds who have not won a graded stakes over a mile this year and can be used as a stepping-stone to the Travers on Aug. 24.

Meanwhile, Gould’s Gold shipped to Saratoga Monday, along with his Kentucky Derby-winning stablemate Mystik Dan. Gould’s Gold, like Mystik Dan, is a son of Goldencents and trained by Kenny McPeek. He finished third in the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn before his runner-up finish in the Sir Barton.

“That horse is still a couple of races from being where we want him. He’s still a little bit soft and young,” McPeek said. “He got gawky. He saw the tire tracks from the track, he wanted to prop. It cost him the race.”

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