Mon, 06/06/2022 - 12:46

Bobby Flay buys into We the People just in time for Belmont Stakes

Fasig-Tipton
Bobby Flay was a part-owner of Creator, who won the 2016 Belmont Stakes. This year, he has bought a share of We the People, who might be the Belmont Stakes favorite.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Bobby Flay is going back for seconds.

Five days before the 2016 Belmont Stakes, the celebrity chef purchased a minority interest in the 3-year-old Creator, who rewarded that investment with a nose victory in the Belmont.

Monday, Flay bought a minority interest in the colt We the People, who will make his next start – potentially as the favorite – in Saturday’s 154th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 10:50

Belmont Stakes: Ethereal Road will miss race due to quarter crack

Barbara D. Livingston
Luis Saez guides Ethereal Road to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Sir Barton Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Ethereal Road, winner of the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 21, will not compete in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday after developing a quarter crack in his right front hoof, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Monday.

Ethereal Road has been training at Churchill Downs since traveling to Pimlico.

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 09:12

Howling Time will skip Belmont, run in Matt Winn Stakes

Coady Photography
Howling Time wins an allowance race May 21 at Churchill Downs, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

At Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Howling Time was withdrawn from Belmont consideration by trainer Dale Romans early Monday, two days after the Not This Time colt breezed a half-mile in 48.80 seconds.

Romans said he “talked over our options” with Jason Loutsch, racing manager for the Albaugh Family Stables, before settling on the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill the day after the Belmont.

Sun, 06/05/2022 - 13:34

Golden Glider works half-mile for Saturday's Belmont Stakes

Walter Wlodarczyk
Golden Glider was the only Belmont Stakes runner to breeze at Belmont on Sunday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Golden Glider, the Peter Pan Stakes runner-up, completed his preparations for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes by working an easy half-mile in 49.94 seconds Sunday morning over Belmont Park’s main track.

A day after six prospective Belmont contenders put in workouts, Golden Glider was the only Belmont Stakes runner to breeze on Sunday.

Sat, 06/04/2022 - 13:47

Belmont Stakes clocker: We the People works a sharp half-mile

Susie Raisher/NYRA
We the People, with trainer Rodolphe Brisset up, works a half-mile in 47.41 seconds on Saturday over the Belmont Park main track.

Belmont Park
Weather
: Sunny
Track: Fast
Temperature: 64 degrees

ELMONT, N.Y. – There are seven likely Belmont Stakes starters currently stabled on the grounds at Belmont Park. Four of them turned in their final works for the final leg of the 2022 Triple Crown on Saturday morning, including WE THE PEOPLE, whose “buzz horse” status likely gained additional supporters after a sharp half-mile drill with his trainer, Rodolphe Brisset, aboard.

Sat, 06/04/2022 - 13:10

Belmont Stakes: Nest impresses in team drill with Mo Donegal

Susie Raisher/NYRA
Nest (left) works with stablemate Mo Donegal over the Belmont training track on Saturday as both prepare for the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Fifteen years after he won the Belmont Stakes with a filly, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will try to do it again in the 154th running of the Belmont next Saturday.

Pletcher, who won the 2007 Belmont with Rags to Riches, all but confirmed Nest, the Kentucky Oaks runner-up, as a starter for this year’s Belmont following a Saturday workout over the Belmont training track. Nest went a half-mile in 49.89 seconds, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, in company with Mo Donegal, the Kentucky Derby fifth-place finisher who also is running in the Belmont.

Fri, 06/03/2022 - 12:56

Belmont Stakes 2022: Rich Strike picks up pace in gallop over sloppy track

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Rich Strike gallops over a sloppy main track at Belmont Park on Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – It was the calm after the storm Friday morning at Belmont Park.

With the two dirt tracks at Belmont still pretty wet Friday morning following Thursday’s heavy afternoon rains, there was not much serious training going on in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 11. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. postponed a scheduled Friday morning breeze for Preakness fifth-place finisher Skippylongstocking until Saturday.

Wed, 06/01/2022 - 13:16

Belmont Stakes: Road warrior Rich Strike shows he has plenty left in the tank

Coady Photography
Rich Strike works five furlongs on Monday at Churchill Downs, then on Tuesday traveled to Belmont Park, where he runs June 11 in the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Shortly after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike was led out of his stall in Belmont Park’s Barn 29 by groom by Jerry Dixon Jr. Eric Reed, the trainer of Rich Strike, looked at Dixon and said, “Good luck.”

After making one turn around the barn, Dixon came back maintaining a somewhat awkward-looking hold of Rich Strike.

“He broke the shank,” said Dixon, who relayed to Reed the horse had reared up on the walk.

Tue, 05/31/2022 - 09:03

Belmont Stakes: Creative Minister, Ethereal Road get back to work

Emily Shields
Creative Minister, third in the Preakness, worked a half-mile in 48.37 seconds on Tuesday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Creative Minister, third in the Preakness on May 21, and Ethereal Road, winner of the Sir Barton Stakes on the same day, returned to the work tab Tuesday morning as they prepare for a start in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes here June 11.

Mon, 05/30/2022 - 16:33

Rich Strike turns in strong work between races; leaves for Belmont on Tuesday

Coady Photography
Rich Strike worked five furlongs in 59 seconds between races at Churchill on Memorial Day and then galloped out strongly. He was timed going six furlongs in 1:12.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rich Strike had his second and final workout between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes when breezing five furlongs in 59 seconds between races Monday at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Eric Reed watched the work from atop the five-furlong clocker’s stand on the Churchill backside. Rich Strike was ridden by regular exercise Gabriel Lagunes over a freshly harrowed track rated fast.