Trio of Belmont possibles work

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Less than 48 hours after the second jewel in the Triple Crown was run in the Pimlico mud, a trio of Churchill-based 3-year-olds who could run in the third jewel were out for serious work early Monday over a fast track.

Belmont Stakes prospects Mo Tom and Creator each breezed a half-mile on a beautiful morning, going in 49 and 50 seconds, respectively, while Suddenbreakingnews went five furlongs in 1:01.60. Mo Tom, trained by Tom Amoss, and Suddenbreakingnews, trained by Donnie Von Hemel, both went solo, while Creator went in company with his Steve Asmussen-trained stablemate Gold Hawk.

A bit later, Asmussen also sent out Gun Runner to work a half-mile in 49.40 seconds. Third in the Kentucky Derby behind Nyquist and Exaggerator, Gun Runner was declared from the Preakness last Tuesday.

“I think he could’ve gotten the trip Exaggerator got, tucking right in behind them in a good spot, but obviously we’ll never know what would’ve happened,” said Asmussen.

The Belmont Stakes on June 11 is not on Gun Runner’s agenda, Asmussen said. The Haskell at Monmouth Park on July 31 is the main summer goal for Gun Runner, with the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill on June 18 a likely stepping-stone.

Another Belmont prospect, Brody’s Cause, breezed five furlongs Sunday in 1:01 at Churchill in his first work since the Derby.

◗ Tom’s Ready will make his next start in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on the Belmont undercard, trainer Dallas Stewart said after the colt had his first breeze Sunday since the Derby. Tom’s Ready breezed a half-mile in 49. Tom’s Ready joins another Derby also-ran, Whitmore, in turning back in distance in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens.

◗ Cupid had his second work since finishing 10th as the odds-on favorite April 16 in the Arkansas Derby, breezing a bullet five furlongs in 59.20 seconds here Monday. Cupid underwent a procedure to correct an entrapped epiglottis following the Arkansas Derby.

Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Cupid’s trainer, Bob Baffert, is overseeing eight horses at Churchill and said they are likely to remain here “at least through the Belmont.”

◗ The carryover in the 20-cent Single Six (races 3-8) for the Thursday card at Churchill stands at $412,802, and if form holds, there won’t be many winning longshots.

Remarkably, in 48 Single Six races from eight post-Derby cards, 30 winners have been 3-1 or lower, while only two winners have been higher than 7-1: Run Zippy Run (12-1) last Friday and Mucho Macho Bets (16-1) on Sunday. Single Six payoffs have ranged from $490 on May 14 to $12,591 last Friday while averaging $3,992.