ELMONT, N.Y. — Led by the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Forte and Tapit Trice in New York, and the Brad Cox trio of Angel of Empire, Hit Show, and Tapit Shoes in Kentucky, six of the 10 prospective starters for next Saturday’s 155th Belmont Stakes put in workouts Saturday morning.
ELMONT, N.Y. – At the beginning of the season, the prospects for success in this year’s Triple Crown seemed bright for trainer Brad Cox whose 38 nominees were the most of any trainer in this year’s series.
After going winless with four starters in the Kentucky Derby and unable to have a runner in the Preakness, Cox will hope for a change of fortune when he sends out a trio of runners in the 155th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Tapit Shoes, second to Red Route One in the Bath House Row Stakes on April 22 at Oaklawn Park, was confirmed on Thursday as a starter for the Belmont Stakes on June 10 by trainer Brad Cox.
Tapit Shoes, a son of Tapit – who has produced four Belmont Stakes winners since 2014 – has just one win from five starts. He is owned by a partnership led by Spendthrift Farm and will be ridden in the race by Jose Ortiz, who won the 2017 Belmont aboard Tapwrit.
Belmont Park
Wednesday, May 31
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 55 degrees
Track: Fast
ELMONT, N.Y. – Only half the prospective 10 starters for this year’s Belmont Stakes are currently on the grounds, and all five of whom got in works over the local strip during the past five days. The last of that group is Peter Pan winner Arcangelo, who breezed shortly after the renovation break under regular rider Javier Castellano here Wednesday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Javier Castellano may not be coming to the June 10 Belmont Stakes with his Kentucky Derby winner Mage, but the Hall of Fame rider is still coming to the race with a live chance to win.
Castellano will ride Arcangelo in the Belmont, the final leg of the Triple Crown. Three weeks ago, Castellano guided Arcangelo to a head victory over race favorite Bishops Bay in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes.
BELMONT PARK May 30
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 55 degrees
Track: Fast
ELMONT, N.Y. -- NATIONAL TREASURE was back on the clocker’s tab Tuesday at Belmont Park, just 10 days after his hard-fought and very game victory in the Preakness. His work over a fast track came on an unseasonably cool morning playing out somewhat on the unconventional side, especially by trainer Bob Baffert’s standards.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Ten days after a narrow victory in the Preakness Stakes, National Treasure is acting like a fresh, energetic horse. John Velazquez, his jockey, would prefer to conserve some of that energy for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 10.
Tuesday morning, National Treasure, with Velazquez up, returned to the work tab, going a half-mile in 50.85 seconds over the Belmont main track, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Neither Red Route One nor Raise Cain did anything in their Monday morning workouts to change their status as middle-of-the-pack to longshot prices for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 10 at Belmont Park.
Red Route One, fourth in the Preakness Stakes, worked a half-mile in 51.11 seconds over Belmont Park’s main track, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. Red Route One went his first quarter in 25.38 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.53.
STICKNEY, Ill. – Two Phil’s continues to thrive following his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, but will pass on the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, in favor of the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby on June 24 at Thistledown.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Forte took a significant step toward getting off the veterinarian’s list and into the Belmont Stakes with a strong workout Saturday morning at Belmont Park.
Under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte worked five furlongs in 1:00.49, according to Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch. Forte started about a half-length behind the 3-year-old maiden Abadin and finished about 1 1/2 lengths in front. Forte, with a little prodding by Ortiz past the wire, proceeded to gallop out six furlongs in 1:12.72, seven furlongs in 1:25.94, and a mile in 1:38.74.
