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| Staff Writer |
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Trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed on 21st May that Seize the Grey, the winner of the Gr.1 Preakness Stakes, will be getting ready to compete in the US$2 million Gr.1 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on 8th June.
"We're going to go in the Belmont," Lukas said. "He's great, recovered remarkably well."
The offspring of Arrogate reached his home stable at Churchill Downs on 20th May at approximately 3 p.m. and has acclimated comfortably. Lukas, a four-time Belmont winner, described the journey as "uneventful" and is prepared to resume training with Seize the Grey.
"He'll probably have a couple works, we'll decide that as we go," Lukas said. "We'll see how he is each day."
Seize the Grey will be competing against Sierra Leone, the winner of the Gr.1 Blue Grass Stakes who narrowly missed winning the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby by a nose, and Fierceness, the 2023 Eclipse champion 2YO male who finished a disappointing 15th in the Derby after stalking a fast pace as the favorite.
"I think it probably has the making of the best race of the three," Lukas said. "When you consider the fresh horses and the quality of horse going in it, I think it's going to be a really, really good race."
Lukas is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to compete against Mystik Dan, the Kentucky Derby champion who recently arrived at Saratoga on 20th May. Although trainer Kenny McPeek has yet to confirm Mystik Dan's plans, there is a possibility that he may participate in the Belmont.
If Mystik Dan participates, it would mark the first instance of a Kentucky Derby victor who didn't win the Preakness returning for the Belmont since Orb in 2013. Orb and Lukas' Preakness champion Oxbow were both bested by Palace Malice. Lukas described a potential showdown between the two classic winners as "tremendous" for the sport.
"I think when we square them off—especially when it's a mile and a quarter, that's a better distance for it—that adds a little spice to it," Lukas said. "That's probably the story."
Due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park, the Belmont Stakes has been relocated to Saratoga for the next two editions. As a result of Saratoga's track layout, the race distance has been shortened from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/4 miles.
Meanwhile, as Mystik Dan gets used to his new surroundings, Seize the Grey has returned to Kentucky before planning to come back to the East Coast in a few weeks. Lukas explained that his commitment to the other horses and owners in his barn influenced his decision not to go directly to Saratoga.
"I don't want to be gone from my major stable for three to four weeks. I have an obligation to be a trainer here," Lukas said. "And I'm not so sure he won't rest better here than if he was (at Saratoga). ... The way we ship, they get used to it and they handle it well."
Honor Marie, who finished in eighth place at the Kentucky Derby, is also getting ready at Churchill Downs for a potential run in the Belmont. She faced some early interference and had to navigate through traffic during the race.
Honor Marie trains ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
"He came out of the race in great shape despite a brutal trip," said trainer Whit Beckman. "I thought he ran a good race, he just kept running into trouble."
On Saturday, Honor Marie had a smooth half-mile workout in :49 1/5, breezing next to stablemate Anthem King.
"He did it the right way," Beckman said. "We'll let him tell us what he wants to do, but the idea is taking him up to New York for the Belmont."
Honor Marie will have his next workout at Churchill Downs before the Belmont, but the location for his final workout is still undecided. Beckman will consider the weather and other factors to decide whether to send the son of Honor Code to Saratoga or keep him at home for his final training session. Beckman mentioned that if the race had stayed at Belmont Park, he would have aimed for a workout there due to its long stretches and wide turns. However, he believes that acclimating to Saratoga is not as challenging.
Catching Freedom, the winner of the Gr.2 Louisiana Derby, has now returned to Churchill Downs after securing third place in the Preakness. Although he exited the Preakness in good form, it seems that his journey towards the Triple Crown has come to an end.
"He came out of (the Preakness) in good order, we'll probably take him back to the track in a couple days," trainer Brad Cox said. "Unsure as to where we'll run, but as of right now I think we will pass on the Belmont."
Cox mentioned that he is keeping the possibility of participating in summer races such as the 20th July Gr.1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park and the 27th July Gr.2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, with a focus on the August 24th Gr.1 Travers Stakes.
Additionally, he stated that at the moment, none of the horses in his stable, including Blue Grass runner-up Just a Touch, are being considered for the Belmont. Just a Touch, who finished last in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby, returned to training on 17th May with a half-mile breeze in :49.
"I really liked the way he was moving," Cox said. "I just don't really have a good feel for what I want to do with him yet."