A few events in different parts of the country on May 21 have raised hopes that the upcoming Belmont Stakes (G1) might have some buzz, although hopes of winning the Triple Crown have been dashed. off the day before when the winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) magician finished third in Preakness Stakes (G1).
In New York, Forte Work at Belmont Park and co-owner Mike Repole said the 2-year-old champion is “targeting Belmont Stakes.”
“He did a great job today,” Repole said of the four-mile breeze in :50.31 on Belmonttrack his training, eighth fastest out of 17 long distance moves.
This is his first timed job since April 29 for the pony also owned by St. Elias Stable.
“He looks great,” coach Todd Pletcher, who listed Tapit Trice (7th place in the Kentucky Derby), Kingsbarns (14th) and first winner prove worthy like other abilities from his stables to Belmont.
That news could further clarify the 3-year-old’s prospects as Forte, despite missing the May 6 Kentucky Derby and Preakness due to a minor leg injury, could be considered captain for some quarters. Before getting scratched on the morning of the Kentucky Derby, the son of Violence beat the Derby Mage winner in both the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and finished first in his last five races.
In Baltimore, home of Racecourse Pimlico and Preakness, coach Bob Baffert said Belmont is a possibility for National treasures who wins the second jewel in the Triple Crown by passing Blazing Sevens .
Baffert did not commit the son of Quality Sugar to the American Classic which is a mile and a half long. He said he would wait a day or two before deciding whether to submit National Treasure and winner Sir Barton Stakes Arabian lion to New York, or, if he doesn’t like the way they left the race on Saturday, return home to California for a break from the summer campaigns.
When it comes to National Treasures, however, Baffert hardly refute the notion that the 3-year-old coming out of his pre-run Preakness would win no worse when wearing and would ideally fit the distance. 12 miles of “The Test of Champions.”
National Treasure at Pimlico Racecourse in the morning after winning the Preakness Stakes
“Looks like (National Treasure and Arabian Lion) came out fine. I’ll leave them for a few days, I’m not sure, and if they look good I’ll move them to Belmont. If National Treasure goes , he was going to run in Belmont because (jockey John Velazquez) said he might have gone around it twice.They went too slow early (six races in 1:13.49) so he ended up having too much. so many horses that he couldn’t pull him up,” said Baffert, who expressed some concern about the Arabian Lion’s handling of 1 1/2 miles and listed seven-furred Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) long on the Belmont Stock Day lined card as a possibility for him. “The distance won’t matter for National Treasure, not with how he’s raised so well. A mile and a half will be right up his alley.
“(National Treasure) only ran the last 1/4 mile (in Preakness.) Before that, they were just galloping. They ran the last 1/4 mile but it wasn’t a real tax race. “
Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, National Treasure won for the second time in six career starts.
In addition to stopping three different classic winners in the same year since justification In 2018, the match between National Treasure and Forte could determine the clear ranking order between the 3-year-olds participating in the summer classics, topped by the big game on August 26 in Travers Staking (G1) at Racecourse Saratoga.
“I think they’ll start to get better,” Baffert says of the three-year-old plants. “I think Mage is a very good horse. With him winning the Kentucky Derby, it’s hard to get him back in two weeks. They’re very competitive; a good team. Forte is also a good horse. . It’s a pity he can’t make it to the Derby. I’m sure they’ll get him right and he’ll have a hard time along the way.”
Baffert said regeneration who lost weight after finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby, it will be a last minute decision for Belmont and that undefeated Southwest Stakes (G3) winner Arab Knights will target July 22 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Chad Brown, Blazing Sevens trainer for Rodeo Creek Racing, said his foal came out of Preakness “OK” and was moved back to Belmont Park. He points out that the July 29 Jim Dandy Stock in Saratoga is likely a target for his son. good magic his next start, the same path he took with his 2022 Preakness winner, Vote early .
Red Road One fourth in the Preakness, calling Belmont an “obvious” target for his horse.
