Belmont Training Track Stays Busy During Racing Hiatus

Although racing in New York is at a standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Belmont Park's dirt training track has been busy with 314 horses on the work tab March 28. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez sent out 12, including multiple stakes winner Dream Bigger and last-out Busher Invitational Stakes winner Water White.

Rodriguez and his staff of more than 30 workers oversee the conditioning of 65 horses across two barns on the Belmont backstretch. The veteran conditioner said his team is working to keep the horses safe and sound while following the protocols.

"We have two barns, so we try to keep the horses and staff spread out. We keep everything very clean, follow the guidelines, and wash our hands and equipment as much as possible," Rodriguez said. "You have to keep the horses training and healthy. We're doing the best we can with the situation. The horses have to keep moving. They're used to this routine, and they're bred to run. If you leave them in the stall, they'll be kicking the walls."

Both Dream Bigger and Water White breezed a half-mile in :51.93.

"They both went nice and easy. We had to do a little something to keep them fit," Rodriguez said.

Repole Stable's Dream Bigger, a gray son of Mission Impazible  bred by Sequel New York, Twin Creeks Racing, and Pamela Zielinski, has a record of 3-3-1 from seven starts. He has three stakes wins: the New York Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes and the Notebook and Damon Runyon stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"He always showed a lot of talent. We've been beaten by a couple of nice horses, but he's still learning," Rodriguez said. "In the stretch, he still doesn't want to change leads. Hopefully as he matures a little bit, that will change with his mentality. I really have to thank Mike Repole for giving us the opportunity to train this kind of horse."

In his most recent start, Dream Bigger returned from a layoff off a third-place finish in the Rego Park Stakes and went wire-to-wire under Junior Alvarado for an impressive 7 3/4-length score in the Damon Runyon.

"Freshening him up and giving him a nice eight weeks (off) seemed to do the trick," Rodriguez said. "There's a lot of money in New York-bred races, so we'll try and keep him there. But if he keeps improving, we can take a chance. He's never finished worse than third, and he always tries hard. We haven't had the chance to stretch him out to a mile yet."

E.V. Racing Stable's Water White captured a dramatic renewal of the Busher Invitational when she collared Kansas Kis in the final stride to win by a nose. 

Rodriguez said the sizable filly is maturing rapidly.

"She looks like she's growing," Rodriguez said. "She's put some weight on. It's very encouraging to see the way she's coming around."

With the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) moved to September, Rodriguez said he is hoping the talented sophomore will continue to blossom.

A number of notable horses were on the Belmont Park work tab Saturday morning, including multiple grade 1-winning millionaire Mind Control, who went a sharp half-mile in :48.01.

Trained by Gregg Sacco for Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables, Mind Control continues to train forwardly following his rallying score in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct.