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| Staff Writer |
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Journalism continues preparation for the Gr.1 Belmont Stakes following an encouraging workout at Saratoga Racecourse on Sunday morning. The Michael McCarthy trained colt, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, completed a half-mile breeze in 47.54 seconds as he builds towards the June 7 finale of America's Triple Crown series.
The Curlin colt posted opening fractions of 23 4/5 seconds before galloping out strongly, clocking 1:00 for five furlongs and 1:12 4/5 for six furlongs according to official timers.
"I thought it was very good, more or less what we've seen all along," McCarthy told BloodHorse. "Got away from the pole nice and smooth, put in a decent run around the turn and finished up the final quarter shading 24 seconds and galloped out strong."
McCarthy reports Journalism has recovered completely from his Gr.1 Preakness Stakes victory, where he encountered significant traffic problems whilst being bumped during the stretch run.
"He's enjoying himself up here. I think he's very relaxed," McCarthy explained. "The cooler weather has him on his toes."
The Kentucky Derby runner-up will become the only horse competing in all three Triple Crown races this year, attempting to achieve the Preakness-Belmont double last accomplished by Afleet Alex in 2005, excluding Triple Crown winners.
Sovereignty, trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott for Godolphin, worked a half-mile in 48.84 seconds over the Oklahoma Training Track on Sunday morning. The Derby winner, who finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Journalism at Churchill Downs, skipped the Preakness Stakes to prepare specifically for the 1 1/4-mile Belmont distance.
"He went well," Mott told NYRA publicity. "We just wanted a nice breeze, in 48, 49, which is what we got. He galloped out good. He looked smooth. He came back good. It was a maintenance-type breeze, and that is what we got."
Official clockers recorded early splits of 12 3/5 and 24 2/5 seconds whilst galloping out in 1:02 for five furlongs and 1:16 3/5 for six furlongs.
Crudo, owned by Bobby Flay and James Ventura, emerged as a new Belmont Stakes contender following his Sunday morning workout. The Todd Pletcher trainee, a son of Justify, breezed a half-mile in 48.86 seconds outside stablemate Gate to Wire.
Starting a length behind his workmate, Crudo recorded splits of 12 4/5 and 24 4/5 seconds before galloping out in 1:01 3/5 and 1:14 3/5.
"I thought it was an excellent move. He worked really well, galloped out nicely. I was very pleased with him. He's had a good couple week since he ran," Pletcher explained. "It's undoubtedly a pretty strong field. The top three from the Derby look to be really good colts. We've always been really high on the way the horse trained. His last two races have been very good."
Pletcher also plans to enter Uncaged, owned by WinStar Farm and Repole Stable, in the Belmont Stakes. The Curlin colt finished sixth in the Gr.3 Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct Racecourse.