Sir Winston Returns to Belmont Park After Dubai Travels

Reigning Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Sir Winston is back in familiar surroundings at Belmont Park after clearing quarantine upon his return from Dubai.

Trained by Mark Casse, Tracy Farmer's homebred son of Awesome Again was a leading contender for the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), which was postponed due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sir Winston hasn't started since capturing an allowance/optional claiming race Jan. 31 at Aqueduct Racetrack, a one-turn mile event where he broke last of seven, but rallied to win by 2 1/4 lengths while garnering a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Casse said Sir Winston cleared quarantine in Newark, N.J., over the weekend and was reunited with assistant trainer Jamie Begg.

"He's at Belmont with Jamie and was to gallop this morning," said Casse. "He lost a few pounds on the trip even though he didn't run. We'll let him regroup and see when we start up running again.

"I think he can compete with the better older horses running a mile and an eighth or farther. For now, we'll put a few pounds on him and keep him happy."

War of Will, Got Stormy Seek Targets

Gary Barber's Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will has posted back-to-back breezes on the Palm Meadows turf in preparation for his seasonal debut.

"Our hope is to make him a dual grade 1 winner, dirt and turf," Casse said.

Casse was targeting the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1T), a one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and upward slated for May 25 at Santa Anita Park. But with racing at Santa Anita currently suspended, the Canadian Hall of Fame conditioner has no choice but to take a wait-and-see approach.

"He's pretty well ready to run. We just need a place to run him. I was looking at the Shoemaker Mile, but we'll have to see if Santa Anita reopens," said Casse. "Every day is something new, so we play it one day at a time."

Casse also is keeping Barber's multiple grade 1 winner Got Stormy on the ground. The Get Stormy  mare finished second by a neck to River Boyne in her second race of the season, the March 7 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita last out. She breezed a sharp half-mile in 47.65 March 29 at Palm Meadows in her first breeze back.

"She was getting bored. We breezed her, but with no real target. She loves to train on the turf," said Casse.

In August, Got Stormy bested the boys in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, covering one mile over the firm inner turf in a track record 1:32 flat.

"She'll definitely be ready for Saratoga," Casse said.

Positives for Derby Prospects

The Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) is the lone remaining American classic that Casse has yet to capture, and the veteran conditioner has John Oxley's Enforceable currently sitting 12th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 33 points.

The late-running son of Tapit  has made his last three starts at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. He rallied from 11th to win the Lecomte Stakes (G3) in January and was a late-charging second in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) in February. Last out, Enforceable closed to be fifth in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), won by Wells Bayou.

Casse said a dawdling pace in the Louisiana Derby didn't play out well for Enforceable.

"It was a merry-go-round race for the most part. They ran around there in single file," said Casse. "Only Enforceable and the fourth-place horse (Major Fed) made a run."

Casse said the rescheduling of the Kentucky Derby to Sept. 5 should benefit Enforceable.

"Physically, he still has to grow up a bit," said Casse. "We've sent him to our training center in Ocala for a couple of weeks."

Gary Barber and Michael Sebastian's Untitled is also at Casse's Ocala facility following a good runner-up effort last out in the Gotham Stakes (G3), a one-turn mile won by Mischevious Alex.

Casse said Untitled, a Florida-bred son of Khozan , is another horse who will benefit from a later start to the Kentucky Derby. The conditioner had planned to bring Untitled back in the nine-furlong Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2), which was originally slated for April 4.

"We were going to run him in the Wood," said Casse. "But now, I try to look for some of the positives in not running, and we have plenty of positives in that my family and the people that work for us are healthy.

"From a horse racing standpoint, if there's any horse that will appreciate a little extra time it's him. He's a big, leggy colt and when he fills out he's going to be the man."