Tonalist works toward possible May return

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tonalist continues to progress toward his much-anticipated 2015 debut. Tonalist worked four furlongs in 49.80 seconds and galloped out five-eighths in 1:03 on Monday at Payson Park, according to trainer Christophe Clement.

“The plan is to work him one more time in Florida, then send him up to New York,” said Clement. “He should be ready to run sometime in early May.”

Tonalist, the winner of the Belmont Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup last year at 3, has not started since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Clement also said his two graded stakes winners on Saturday’s card, War Correspondent (Appleton) and Beauty Parlor (Orchid) came out of their races well and will remain at Payson Park through April.

“They’ve both been doing well here, so why move them?” said Clement.

Beauty Parlor will run May 2 in the Sheepshead Bay at Belmont Park, he said, and War Correspondent’s next start has yet to be determined.