Students get different grades at gate

ELMONT, N.Y. – Wicked Strong and Social Inclusion both schooled in the starting gate Wednesday, but the results were markedly different.

Wicked Strong, the Wood Memorial winner who was made the second choice for Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, walked in and stood quietly twice on the training track. Wicked Strong misbehaved near the gate before the Holy Bull in Florida and was a bit anxious during the post parade in the Kentucky Derby.

While pleased that Wicked Strong behaved Wednesday, trainer Jimmy Jerkens noted that “it’s the morning. At least if he behaves in the morning, we have a chance to be okay.”

Jerkens said he took Wicked Strong to the training track because the person who handles the horse in the afternoon, Alex Badine, works at the training track gate in the morning. Badine said Wicked Strong has grown up a lot since he was a 2-year-old.

“As a baby, he tried to dive under the doors,” Badine said.

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About 30 minutes later, Social Inclusion attempted to school at the starting gate on the main track for the second time this week. His behavior during a schooling session Monday was one reason owner Ron Sanchez opted to bypass the Belmont Stakes and run in the Woody Stephens, a seven-furlong race on Saturday’s card. While the Belmont Stakes starts in front of an expected large crowd, the gate placement for the Woody Stephens is on the backside, away from any crowd.

After Monday’s schooling session, Roy Williamson, the New York Racing Association’s starter, required that Sanchez bring the horse back Wednesday. After Wednesday’s session, Williamson asked Sanchez to bring the colt back a third time Friday.

“It couldn’t hurt,” Williamson said.

On Wednesday, Social Inclusion was antsy as a handler attempted to bring him to the gate, and once in, he attempted to throw his hind legs on the ledge that the assistant starters perch on in the gate.

“He doesn’t settle,” said Williamson, who called Social Inclusion “high voltage.”

Williamson said he likely would put some extra padding on the back of the stall so that Social Inclusion can’t lift his hind legs and try to put them on the ledge.