Solid work makes Irish War Cry a likely Belmont Stakes starter
ELKTON, Md. – Trainer Graham Motion said Saturday that he is inclined to run Irish War Cry in the Belmont Stakes after the horse worked to his liking earlier in the morning at the Fair Hill Training Center here but added that a decision would come after he consults with owner Isabelle de Tomaso.
Irish War Cry, the winner of the Wood Memorial who is coming off a 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, went six furlongs in company with the older horse Ascend. Irish War Cry worked on a fast dirt track and covered the distance in 1:14, according to staff members of Fair Hill.
“I’m quite excited about how he breezed this morning,” Motion said. “As long as he comes out of it all right – we’ll go over him Monday and Tuesday before we enter – but as long as he comes out of it well, I would be inclined to take a shot.”
Irish War Cry came onto the track at around 7:30 on an overcast morning in the 60s. After backtracking for about a mile, he went into his work down the backside, sitting just off Ascend, who was on the rail. The pair came through both the stretch and the wire together, with Irish War Cry working under exercise rider David Nava.
Irish War Cry, who has a summer objective of the Haskell, put himself under serious Belmont Stakes consideration with the strong work Saturday.
“I think if you run in the Derby and you’re disappointed, you just kind of want to put it behind you and move on,” Motion said. “I wasn’t even thinking about anything much before the Haskell, but when I look at it, it’s a classic. The Belmont is a classic. My horse is doing well. He’s beaten some of the top horses, and the Haskell is still a long way off.
“So, I’ve kind of looked for reasons for him to tell me he shouldn’t run next week. But everything he’s done – as long as he comes out of this well – I don’t know how I can sit here with a horse who’s in good form, who’s going to be one of the favorites, and not run him in a classic.”
Nava was reunited with Irish War Cry on Saturday.
“He worked him all winter,” Motion said. “He hasn’t worked him since he came up north. It was good for me to see how he thought he was doing.”
Motion said Ascend is being pointed for the Manhattan at Belmont.
Rajiv Maragh will have the mount on Irish War Cry in the Belmont if the horse starts, said Motion.
