Sunday, June 1
Saratoga
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 46°
Main track: Good
Training track: Good
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Logic would suggest Journalism is apt to regress some coming into Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, considering all the obstacles he had to overcome and the taxing effort it took to win the Preakness. But there certainly was no evidence to support that theory after watching the Kentucky Derby runner-up work over a main track officially listed as good with jockey Umberto Rispoli aboard here Sunday.
Heavy rains throughout the day on Saturday, with a total accumulation in excess of 2.5 inches, made it a no-brainer for trainer Michael McCarthy to postpone Journalism’s final serious Belmont prep 24 hours. Kudos to the Saratoga maintenance crew for having the racetrack in good enough condition for McCarthy to even be able to green light the important drill the following morning.
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Looking like a million bucks, as he has since his arrival here from Baltimore more than a week earlier, Journalism eased away from the half-mile pole with an opening furlong in 12.33 seconds before picking up his pace steadily and almost imperceptibly the further he traveled. Journalism posted a 23.88 quarter split before cruising to the wire in 47.50 and then responded to light urging from Rispoli to complete five furlongs in 1:00.10 and ease up six furlongs, totally on his own, in 1:12.60.
Looking every bit as imposing coming out of the Preakness as he had leading up to the Kentucky Derby four weeks earlier, it came as no surprise that it took McCarthy very little time to officially confirm Journalism as a definite go for the Belmont after this work.
Trainer Bill Mott has yet to work a horse on the main track since settling into his summer headquarters here about a month ago, so it came as no surprise that Sovereignty’s final Belmont breeze took place over the Oklahoma training track about an hour later. The Derby winner, who seems to be perhaps a bit more aggressive in his training coming out of his victory, was pretty much in maintenance mode Sunday morning after turning in a strong and serious drill in company with no less a mate than Grade 1 winner Arthur’s Ride the previous week. He posted a 24.17 and 48.58 half-mile clocking over a surface that has been on the dull side on a daily basis, then galloped out five-eighths in 1:01.76.
The price won’t be nearly as generous as in the Derby but Sovereignty appears poised for another big effort Saturday.
Like Journalism, Crudo also had to pass the eye test from his trainer, Todd Pletcher, before being named a Belmont starter. The lightly raced Sir Barton winner punched his ticket into the race with a solid effort of his own Sunday over the Oklahoma strip. Breaking off about a length behind his stakes-winning 3-year-old stablemate Gate to Wire, Crudo proved much the best of the pairing, sticking his head in front while going easiest of the duo after a half-mile mile in 24.57 and 48.66 before maintaining his advantage widest into the bend. He continued five-eighths in 1:01.51, readily drawing clear and easing up six panels around the turn in 1:14.07.
Baeza gets final tune-up
Monday, June 2
Saratoga
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 47°
Training Track: Fast
Baeza completed his final serious preparations for his much-anticipated rematch with Sovereignty and Journalism at his home base of Santa Anita. Like Sovereignty on Sunday, Baeza was in maintenance mode over the training track Monday.
With jockey Flavien Prat aboard, the Kentucky Derby third-place finisher looked quite happy breezing an easy half-mile, equipped in blinkers, in 24.93 and 48.96. He continued out around the turn in 1:02.43 before easing up after three-quarters in 1:16.41. He kept a straight and true course to the wire after appearing to lug in some late in his most recent West Coast drill.
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