Following a strong workout June 1, Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel HambyIII, and Valley View Farm's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan is all but confirmed for the June 8 $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Ken McPeek and piloted through the breeze by Danny Ramsey, Mystik Dan worked five-eighths over the Oklahoma dirt training track just after 5:30 a.m. in 1:01.59 in company to the outside of dual stakes-placed Gould's Gold. New York Racing Association clockers caught Mystik Dan through splits of :12.74, :25.18, :36.39, and out in 1:16.22 and 1:30.65 with the Derby winner galloping out strongly through the turn in front of his workmate.
G1 Kentucky Derby winner MYSTIK DAN breezed in company (outside) with Gould’s Gold. NYRA clockers caught him in 12.74, 25.18, and 36.69 with five furlongs in 1:01.59, galloped out in 1:16.22 and 1:30.65. pic.twitter.com/OKduHedwp4
— Mary Eddy🏇🏼 (@singmysongbird) June 1, 2024
"I'm surprised Mystik Dan galloped out that far in front of the other horse—he's a pretty nice horse. It was impressive. He's doing great," McPeek said. "He does things easy. The gallop-out was pretty impressive.
"We'll see how he eats tonight," added McPeek. "He's ate up several nights in a row now. I expect him to eat up tonight. If for some reason he didn't, that would concern me, but I expect he will."
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The draw for the Belmont Stakes will be held June 3.
Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing's Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna, also with Ramsey up, breezed shortly before Mystik Dan, covering five-eighths over the Oklahoma training track in 1:02.09, while working to the outside of maiden winner Midnight Concerto.
Thorpedo Anna, who has been under consideration for the Belmont Stakes if Mystik Dan was to miss the race, is entered in the June 7$500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies.
Trio of Belmont Stakes Contenders Breeze for Pletcher
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Belmont Stakes four times and will have three chances to claim a fifth with the talented trio of Mindframe, Antiquarian, and Protective. All three colts posted their final works for the classic Saturday morning over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track.
Shortly after the track reopened from the first renovation break at 7:30 a.m., Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables' Mindframe and Repole Stable's Protective stepped onto the fast surface as the first team to breeze for Pletcher's set.NYRA clockers caught them through splits of :13.12, :25.84, and a half-mile in :50.26 before galloping out in 1:02.96 with Mindframe drawing well clear of Protective.
"I was happy with them," said Pletcher. "They got in a good rhythm, went along steadily with a strong gallop-out. Happy and moving well."
The undefeated Mindframe enters from an impressive allowance optional claiming victory May 4 at Churchill Downs, leading at every point of call in the 1 1/16-mile tilt to draw off to a 7 1/2-length score under Irad OrtizJr.
Protective enters the Belmont Stakes a maiden after four starts, but has flashed his talentwhen a deep-closing third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) and a stalking third in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) two lengths behind stablemate and returning rival Antiquarian May 11.
Centennial Farms' Antiquarian had his first and final breeze at Saratoga after spending the last few weeks training with Pletcher's Belmont Park string. The son of Preservationist went to the Oklahoma shortly after the track reopened at 9:30 a.m. and went through a similar routine as Mindframe and Protective before taking off down the backstretch to commence his work with grade 1-placed Be You to his inside.
NYRA clockers caught them in splits of :12.79, :24.79, and the half-mile in :49.99 before galloping out in 1:02.73, 1:15.06, and 1:29.20. The two stayed on together through the lane and finished strongly through the wire.
"It was exactly what we were looking for," said Pletcher. "I thought it was a well-executed breeze and it seemed like both horses were moving well. I liked the way Antiquarian finished, and I really like the way he galloped out. I'm excited about giving him the opportunity to run a mile and a quarter."
Antiquarian looks to follow the same trajectory as last year's Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo as he enters off a three-quarter-length score in the Peter Pan over fellow Belmont Stakes contender The Wine Steward.
Brown Runners Sierra Leone and Tuscan Gold Put in Final Tune-ups
Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone was one of two Belmont contenders to put in their final Belmont works for trainer Chad Brown Saturday morning, drilling four furlongs over the Oklahoma training track dirt at just past 7:30 a.m. in tandem with stablemate Domestic Product.
Owned in partnership by Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith, the son of Gun Runner was timed in :49.32. NYRA clockers had the pair in furlong splits of :12.61 and :24.84,and galloping out in1:02.64 and1:14.93. Sierra Leone wore a cage bit during the work, which is designed to prevent him from lugging inward after the colt bore in badly down the stretch in the Kentucky Derby.
"He looked good today," Brown said. "It was more of a maintenance move, as we did more with him last week, but I was really pleased with him—in particular, his gallop-out. He seems to be moving really good.
"He's accepted the bit and he traveled well into the bridle," Brown added. "That's all I'm really looking for. It's not a severe or drastic change. It's getting more attention because he lost the Derby and lugged in a bit. It's a natural and normal equipment change for a horse who might be having some steering issues. I tried it over the winter and didn't like it as much, as I prefer just a blinker and a left stick—and he ran great twice that way—but I think it's time to re-examine it a bit."
Flavien Prat will ride the three-time winner from five starts in the Belmont, which will be contested over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga for the first time. Tyler Gaffalione was aboard for his last three runs.
"I wanted to switch things up a little bit," Brown explained. "Tyler has done a really good job on the horse with two wins and a nose defeat. He knows the horse well and worked out a pretty good trip in the Derby from where he was and made a lot of good decisions in there. We were just a little disappointed that we got away from our game plan from the first two races in really anticipating the horse doing that with your left hand and not waiting too long to move. It's not a punishment situation, it's just the second half of the year and our horse runs primarily on the East Coast at Saratoga and Flavien and Irad (OrtizJr.) are my two main riders on this course."
Brown also confirmed that Klaravich Stables' homebred Domestic Product will skip the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and ship to Monmouth Park for the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes June 15, the local prep for the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) July 20.
Later in the morning on the work tab was fellow Belmont Stakes possible Tuscan Gold, who breezed four furlongs in :48.38 on the main track at about 8:45 a.m. in company with the unraced Clever Mischief. Owned by William H. Lawrence, Walmac Farm, and breeder Stonestreet Stables, the son of Medaglia d'Oro and Breeders' Cup-placed Valadorna was fourth in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1).
"He did a little maintenance move here, as he obviously just ran a couple weeks ago," Brown said. "He did what I asked him to do and galloped out fine. I'll discuss it with the partners, but as of now, I'm leaning toward entering the horse. He's looking for a mile and a quarter and he's always given us that impression."
Likely Belmont Starter Dornoch Drills Half-Mile
West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables' dual grade 2 winner Dornoch breezed a half-mile in :48.68 Saturday morning over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track.
Trained by Danny Gargan, the son of Good Magicworked to the inside of stablemate Ramblin' Wreck, putting a neck in front during the latter stages after the pair traveled in splits of :11.56, :23.42,with a gallop-out of 1:02:27 and 1:16.11, according to NYRA clockers.
Gargan said after the work that all being well Dornoch will contest the Belmont.
"He's training really well. He worked good. We are really pleased with him," Gargan said regarding Saturday's breeze with regular exercise rider Priscilla Schaefer in rein, which ranked third of 39 timed works at the distance. "He is doing everything we want right now."
Out of the graded stakes-placed Big Brown mare Puca, Dornoch is a full brother to last year's Kentucky Derby winner Mage. Last out, he looked to follow in his brother's footsteps, but finished 10th after a troubled trip from post 1 of 20 in the Kentucky Derby.
"We just have to stay focused and get lucky," Gargan said. "Hopefully, have a good trip this time."
Luis Saez, who has been aboard for six of the colt's sevenlifetime starts, including an additional win in a third-out graduation in October at Keeneland, will have the call in the Belmont, according to Gargan.
Honor Marie 'Ready to Roll'
At Churchill Downs Saturday morning, Belmont Stakes probable Honor Marie clocked a half-mile in :48 2/5for trainer Whit Beckman. The son of Honor Code breezed in company with stablemate Anthem King.
— Legion Bloodstock (@LegionBldstk) June 1, 2024HONOR MARIE put in is final work @ChurchillDowns this morning before shipping to Saratoga tomorrow for next weeks @BelmontStakes!
He clicked ⏱️ off an easy 1/2 in 48.40 in hand with @flothejock in the irons.
All systems go to hopefully get a cleaner trip and run a BIG race one… pic.twitter.com/RBPrbTpl6f
Honor Marie, a troubled eighth in the Kentucky Derby, was piloted by jockey Florent Geroux in his work. Beckman reported that Geroux would be aboard the colt in the Belmont. A graded stakes winner at 2, Honor Marie is campaigned by Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein.
"The time was perfect, :48 and two, out (five furlongs) in 1:01," said Beckman. "But the way he did it was effortless. The horse is doing fantastic. Flo loved it, I loved it. We're ready to roll.
"He's had a few good works coming out of the Derby. He's feeling good and fresh. We're in a good spot. For whatever reason he came out of that race better than he went into it."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
