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| Staff Writer |
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After a strong workout on June 1, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is almost confirmed for the US$2 million Belmont Stakes. Trained by Ken McPeek and ridden by Danny Ramsey, Mystik Dan impressed during the workout, with McPeek stating, "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. He does things easy. The gallop-out was pretty impressive.”
Thorpedo Anna, the Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks winner owned by Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing, also had a breezy workout with jockey Ramsey. She covered five-eighths over the Oklahoma training track in 1:02.09, working alongside maiden winner Midnight Concerto.
Thorpedo Anna is under consideration for the Belmont Stakes but is currently entered in the US$500,000 Acorn Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on June 7.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, a four-time Belmont Stakes winner, will have three contenders for this year's race: Mindframe, Antiquarian, and Protective. All three colts had their final workouts for the classic on Saturday morning over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track.
Mindframe and Protective, representing Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables, took to the track after its first renovation break. They breezed through splits of :13.12, :25.84, and a half-mile in :50.26, with Mindframe pulling ahead of Protective during the gallop out, finishing in 1:02.96.
"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."
Mindframe enters the Belmont Stakes from an impressive victory at Churchill Downs, while Protective has shown talent with notable finishes in previous races.
Antiquarian, trained by Pletcher, had a strong workout as well. "It was exactly what we were looking for," said Pletcher. "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 is aiming to follow a similar path as last year's Belmont Stakes winner, Arcangelo, as he enters off a victory in the Peter Pan Stakes.
Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone and Belmont contender Domestic Product, both trained by Chad Brown, completed their final Belmont works on Saturday morning.
Sierra Leone, owned by a partnership including Peter M. Brant and others, ran four furlongs over the Oklahoma training track dirt, timed in :49.32. Sierra Leone wore a cage bit during the work to prevent lugging inward after the colt bore in badly down the stretch in the Kentucky Derby.
Chad Brown commented, "He looked good today. 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."
Flavien Prat will ride Sierra Leone in the Belmont, replacing Tyler Gaffalione.
Brown explained, "I wanted to switch things up a little bit. 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 (Ortiz Jr.) are my two main riders on this course."
Additionally, Domestic Product will skip the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and ship to Monmouth Park for the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes on June 15.
Fellow Belmont Stakes possible Tuscan Gold also completed a maintenance work, breezing four furlongs in :48.38 on the main track.
Brown said, "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."
Dornoch, the dual grade 2 winner, breezed a half-mile in :48.68 over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track on Saturday morning. Trainer Danny Gargan expressed his satisfaction with the workout, saying, "He's training really well. He worked well. We are really pleased with him."
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."
Dornoch is expected to contest the Belmont, and Luis Saez will have the call in the race.
At Churchill Downs on Saturday morning, Honor Marie, a probable contender for the Belmont Stakes, completed a half-mile workout in :48 2/5 under trainer Whit Beckman. Jockey Florent Geroux piloted the colt during the workout and will ride him in the Belmont. Beckman expressed satisfaction with the workout, stating that Honor Marie is in great shape and ready for the race.
"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."