Hall of Fame Coach Bill Mott Says Godolphin’s Speaker corner looking strong in his breeze on the morning of June 5 on the dirt track at Belmont Park in the final preparations for the Hill ‘n’ Dale Capital Handicap on June 11 (G1).
Jockey Jose Lezcano guided the eventual Carter Handicap (G1) winner through the half-mile single test at: 48.01.
“I let him pick up a little bit more,” said Mott. “His ball: 24 went home today. He played really well and I put him in: 47 and 3. The gallop is normal. We let him finish with the rope.”
Speaker’s Corner beat Belmont five times over the Carter score, and Mott said he’s pleased with how the talented pony entered the meeting with the undefeated 1st grade winner. Flight route and last year’s Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner, Hello West .
“We had a good schedule,” said Mott. “He seemed to be doing well and we finished all our work and luckily we didn’t miss anything. We did what we wanted to do.”
Mott said he’s impressed with Flightline’s Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) win and is looking forward to Saturday’s test, which gives the winner an automatic landing in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November at Keeneland.
“On the surface, it’s very good,” Mott said of Flightline. “But I feel comfortable in my position.”
Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, RA Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing of many 1st place athletes and men’s turf champions 2020 Channel Builder is the target of the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1T) on June 11, a 1/4 mile test for old horses in the grass.
The English Channel’s 8-year-old will make his fourth appearance in Manhattan after placing eighth in 2018 and fourth in both 2019 and 2020.
Channel Maker kicked off its current campaign with a 1/4 of the length in a 12 Game Elkhorn Bet (G2T) on April 23 in Keeneland.
“He’s doing well,” Mott said. “He’s going to work tomorrow. It’s (Manhattan) 10 and I think he’s probably better at 12, but there’s really nowhere else to go and he’s doing well.”
Also working for Manhattan is Otter Bend Stables tier 1 double winner Gufo who won four stakes at: 49 3/5 in the company with a multi-stakes winner Plum Ali on Sundays on Belmont’s courtyard.
Christophe Clement coached Gufo, who got his second job since a game runner-up attempt in Man o’ War Stakes (G1T) on the Belmont turf on May 14. That day he made it. seven turns in the first leg and after a long stretch. nasty winner Head of the Central Highlands .
“Gufo has done a great job and is ready for Manhattan,” Clement said. “He tried really hard and played really well in Man o’ War.”
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Trainee Chad Brown and winner Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) last year Rockempang wrap up five sweaters at 1:01 on May 4 on the inner turf in preparation for Manhattan. The son of Holy Roman Emperor finished second and fifth in the previous two editions of the race.
“He did a great job,” Brown said. “He’s quite fond of Belmont, and the key for him is a solid surface. If the court is hard on Saturday, he’ll run.”
Brown also sent Peter Brant’s In Italy winner Gulfstream Parkof Honey Fox Stakes (G3T) in March and the winner of Seek Again Stakes by Juddmonte Masen to show off four corporate jackets at: 50 2/5. In Italian, preparing for June 11 Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) and overcame a runner-up attempt in the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T) tournament on May 7 at Churchill Downs.
