Tonalist works for Jockey Club Gold Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tonalist, the Belmont Stakes winner, worked six furlongs in 1:14.77 by himself over the Belmont Park main track Monday as he continues to prepare for the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 27.

Though he usually works in company with Life in Shambles, Tonalist worked by himself Monday, going his first quarter-mile in 24.49 seconds, a half-mile in 49.75, and five furlongs in 1:02.02 before getting his final eighth in 12.73. He worked from the half-mile pole to a quarter-mile past the wire.

Trainer Christophe Clement said he decided not to work Tonalist in company Monday because “he had such a good work last week. I’ll work him back in company next weekend.”

Clement has worked Tonalist without blinkers since his third-place finish in the Travers Stakes and plans to remove the equipment for the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

“He’s not working better without the blinkers, he’s working as well, so I guess that means he doesn’t need the blinkers,” Clement said.

Clement is off to a terrific start at the Belmont fall meet, with six wins from 20 starters, including three stakes victories. On Saturday, he won the Grade 3 Noble Damsel with Annecdote, and on Sunday, he came back to win the Ashley T. Cole Stakes with Lubash.

Clement said Annecdote could make her make next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia on Oct. 12, with a later target being the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar on Nov. 30.

Lubash, who went over the $900,000 mark in career earnings with his Cole victory, will make his next start in the Mohawk Stakes on Oct. 18.