Rombauer Among Half-Dozen May 28 Workers for Belmont

Coast to coast, May 28 was a day for final breezes by 3-year-olds pointed toward the June 5 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park.

Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rombauer  breezed at Belmont Park, as did Todd Pletcher trainees Known Agenda , Bourbonic , and Overtook . Then hours later in California, Rock Your World  and Hot Rod Charlie  turned in workouts at Santa Anita Park.

Diane and John Fradkin's Rombauer, trained by Michael McCarthy, breezed a half-mile in :50.01 in company under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who has picked up the Belmont Stakes mount. Rombauer's Preakness jockey, Flavien Prat, will be aboard Hot Rod Charlie, the third-place finisher from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

With Velazquez up for the first time, Rombauer worked outside of Jonathan Thomas-trained maiden winner That Quality , edging past his rival at the wire and galloping out strong through the turn. 

"It seemed like he was well in hand at all times," said  McCarthy. "Johnny asked him to gallop out a little bit going underneath the wire and the horse seemed to respond nicely. I'm very happy with what I saw today."

Velazquez said he was pleased with his first time aboard the Twirling Candy   bay.

"We hooked up at the half-mile pole and we started breezing together really nice through the first part, and then I let him gallop out after the wire. It was a very good gallop out," said Velazquez.

Rombauer (outside) makes his way down Big Sandy in preparation of the #BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/lLbsnCWrDI

— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) May 28, 2021

The versatile Rombauer, a winner on turf, dirt, and synthetic, captured the El Camino Real Derby on the Golden Gate Fields Tapeta in February. He entered the Preakness following a third in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) behind Essential Quality , the probable Belmont Stakes favorite. Essential Quality was beaten for the first time when a wide fourth in the Derby after a troubled start.

Arriving at the Belmont main track around 8:45 a.m. in the first set after the break, Known Agenda, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, breezed in tandem with stablemate and fellow St. Elias Stable color-bearer Dr Post , ridden by exercise rider Hector Ramos. 

NYRA clockers caught the pair through splits of :24.60 and :36 with Known Agenda to the inside, finishing off ahead of his workmate in 1:01 while Dr Post completed his five furlongs in 1:01.20. 

There were some slightly anxious moments during the breeze as the pair found themselves behind another pair of workers during a busy training time following the track renovation. Despite the unexpected close company, Pletcher said that neither he nor Ortiz was fazed. 

KNOWN AGENDA, in company with 2020 Belmont runner up DR POST, putting together his final preparations for the 2021 G1 Belmont Stakes. The Florida Derby winner completed 5 furlongs in 1:01.00. pic.twitter.com/KeyCOHnndt

— Ryan Martin (@RyanMartinNYRA) May 28, 2021

While Known Agenda targets the Belmont Stakes, Dr Post, second in last year's unique 1 1/8-mile running, will point to the $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on the Belmont undercard. 

About 10 minutes later, Bourbonic and Overtook put the final touches on their Belmont Stakes preparations when caught through an opening quarter-mile in :23.60 before completing the half-mile work in :48.49. The pair galloped out five furlongs in an authoritative 1:00.80. Jockey Manny Franco was aboard Overtook while exercise rider Amelia Green piloted Bourbonic. 

A winner of the Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at 72-1 odds, Bourbonic finished 13th in the Kentucky Derby and will attempt to give historic Calumet Farm their first Belmont Stakes triumph in 73 years since Citation swept the Triple Crown in 1948. 

Bourbonic is expected to be a longshot in the Belmont, along with Overtook, third recently in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3).

Both Bourbonic and Overtook boast pedigrees that should suit the 1 1/2-mile distance, being out of mares sired by Belmont Stakes winners. A son of Bernardini  , Bourbonic is out of the graded stakes-winning Afleet Alex   mare Dancing Afleet . Overtook, by Curlin  , is out of the grade 1-winning A.P. Indy  mare Got Lucky .

"The one thing they both have going for them is that they're bred for the distance. It seems like that should be helpful," Pletcher said.

A $1 million purchase from the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Overtook is owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable in partnership with the Coolmore-affiliated Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith. 

A victory with any of his three runners would give Pletcher a fourth Belmont Stakes triumph, putting him on even terms with fellow Hall of Fame inductees Max Hirsch, R.W. Walden, and former boss D. Wayne Lukas. Pletcher previously saddled Rags to Riches  (2007), Palace Malice   (2013), and Tapwrit   (2017) to Belmont scores. 

Out west, Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Rock Your World worked five furlongs Friday in a bullet :58 4/5.

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark, #Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World worked 5 Furlongs in 58.40 on May 28th, 2021, for trainer John Sadler. Rock Your World is expected to make his next start in the #BelmontStakes on June 5th. @1stbet @sadlerracing pic.twitter.com/PgIkWuZKug

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) May 28, 2021

"It was a good work," said John Sadler, who trains the son of Candy Ride   for owners Hronis Racing and David Michael Talla. "He ships to New York tomorrow."

Rock Your World won his first two races on turf, then made his main track debut in the Santa Anita Derby April 3, leading throughout the mile and one-eighth classic and earning a spot in the Kentucky Derby on May 1. In the Derby, he was sandwiched at the start, never threatened finishing 17th of 19.

"We hope to right the ship in the Belmont," Sadler said.

Following Rock Your World's breeze, Hot Rod Charlie worked five furlongs under Prat in 1:00 2/5 around midday Friday, roughly 45 minutes before the start of the day's races at Santa Anita. 

The Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner outfinished workmate Liam's Pride . Hot Rod Charlie, a son of Oxbow  , was timed in splits of :24 and :48 1/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 3/5. 

"Very happy with his breeze today," said trainer Doug O'Neill. "Flavien was happy with the way he did it and that makes me happy.  He had a good, strong gallop going into this work, and now he's got a strong work and gallop-out going into the race.

"We just want to stay injury-free and we're pumped up and optimistic about a week from tomorrow. This horse is getting more and more confident, and he's starting to separate himself from the others. He'll leave Saturday morning at about 3 a.m., along with (ex-racehorse and pony) Lava Man , who's going to take him to the post for the Belmont."

Owned by Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing, and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Hot Rod Charlie has won two of eight starts and $1,305,700.