Velazquez, Tonalist get comfortable

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement had John Velazquez work Tonalist for a second consecutive week on Friday, with Velazquez guiding him through a five-furlong move in 1:01.33 over the Oklahoma training track. Clement said he wanted Velazquez to learn more about Tonalist before he rides him in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes here Aug. 8.

This year, Velazquez has ridden Tonalist to runner-up finishes in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Grade 2 Suburban. In the latter race, Velazquez let the horse move too soon and was outkicked by Effinex, losing by a head.

Velazquez blamed himself for letting the horse do too much too soon in the Suburban. In these last two works, Velazquez put Tonalist directly behind a workmate, Arbitrator, taking dirt for the first quarter of the move.

“He wants to make sure he doesn’t get rank,” said Velazquez.

Velazquez noted that in the Met Mile, Clement “wanted me to put him in the race, and he got a little aggressive with me.”

“I put him behind the horses after an eighth of a mile, and he got to relax,” Velazquez said.

In the Suburban, Velazquez said, Tonalist “broke a little slow.”

“I put him behind horses, he was going pretty nice,” Velazquez said. “When I put him between horses, he started moving, and I didn’t take a hold of him.”

Clement said he’s happy enough with the last two works that Velazquez likely won’t work him back next week.

“I wanted him to get to know him very well,” Clement said. “He rode him twice, and I just like the fact in the morning he’s very settled and finished well.”