 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Sierra Leone, the dual graded stakes winner owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith, had a five-furlong workout alongside Group Three winner Domestic Product at Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track on 25th May.
Sierra Leone, aiming for the US$2 million Gr.1 Belmont Stakes on 8th June, wore blinkers and worked alongside Domestic Product, with clockers from the New York Racing Association recording their splits as follows: :13.28, :25.87, :37.95, and completing five furlongs in 1:02.64. Afterward, Sierra Leone galloped out in 1:15.78 and 1:28.64 on the fast footing.
Trainer Chad Brown, a four-time Eclipse Award winner, expressed satisfaction with the performance of both horses.
"It was good. It was just what I wanted—a steady five-eighths and let them gallop out," said Brown. "I want to maintain where I'm at with the horse (Sierra Leone) and I'm thrilled with how he's moving."
Sierra Leone, the second-place finisher in the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby following an intense three-way stretch battle with Forever Young and the winner Mystik Dan, used a new type of bit—a cage bit—during training on Saturday, aiming for a more controlled ride.
"We're experimenting a little bit," said Brown. "I tried it a little bit in the winter, and I wasn't sold on it, so we went with just some blinkers in the Risen Star and he responded well. But I'm thinking about tweaking a little bit—not positive yet—to give the rider some more control. It could potentially help a little bit.
"He's never done much in the mornings, and sometimes it's hard to recreate (afternoon issues) in the mornings," Brown continued. "The horse had never had us worried about steering issues in the mornings. All we try to do is—as they show us more in the afternoons—is to be prepared."
In addition to a potential equipment alteration for the Belmont, Brown mentioned that Tyler Gaffalione, who usually pilots the son of Gun Runner, will not be riding in the 1 1/4-mile race. Instead, Flavien Prat will be taking over the reins.
"Tyler, from where he was, worked out a very good trip (in the Derby)," Brown commented. "He paused a few times—in the first turn, he paused behind some horses who were in his way, and around the five-sixteenths pole, there were some tired horses who came up on him and he had to get around them. It cost him a little bit, but I thought those decisions were good. I'm moving forward with the change (to Prat) and we'll see how it goes."
Although Domestic Product won't be running in the Belmont Stakes, there is a chance that Brown may have another contender in Tuscan Gold, owned by William Lawrence, Walmac Farm, and Stonestreet Stables. Tuscan Gold finished fourth in the 18th May Gr.1 Preakness Stakes.
"I'm going to work the horse next weekend and then decide," said Brown. "The work and how he's bounced out of the race will let me know."