Keepmeinmind to Skip Belmont Stakes; Turf Race Possible

Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind , with exercise rider Walter Davila up, worked a half-mile in :46.92 from the gate over a sloppy Belmont Park dirt training track May 31. 

Initially under consideration for the June 5 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), trainer Robertino Diodoro said the Laoban   colt will have his next work on turf with an eye towards a start in the July 10 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) at 10 furlongs on turf. The Belmont Derby is the first leg of the New York Racing Association's Turf Triple series.

"He worked great this morning, but thinking about it some more, I think he needs a little more time," Diodoro said. "We were always 50-50 for the race, but I think as soon as we arrived at Belmont people got the impression we were leaning towards that race and it really wasn't the case." 

NYRA clockers caught Keepmeinmind, who was a step slow out of the gate, through an opening quarter-mile in :23.40 and out five furlongs in :59.98.

"He went pretty well this morning. He always trains really well. The track was a little wet," said Davila.

Diodoro said the nine-furlong Ohio Derby (G3) June 26 at Thistledown is still a possibility, but he would like to see Keepmeinmind work on the Belmont grass and continue to hone his gate skills.

"The gate crew has been really good with us up at Belmont on working with him breaking from the gate, but he still broke a step slow this morning," said Diodoro. "I don't know if he's ever going to change that, but the gate crew will get to know him better and we're not rushing him into next Saturday. We'll work him on the grass and go from there."

Keepmeinmind closed to finish fourth last out in the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course after a troubled start. He finished seventh in the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs after racing last of 19 early.

Diodoro said Keepmeinmind's regular rider David Cohen suggested turf as a possibility for the colt.

"Cohen mentioned that this horse could be a grass horse and a couple of the gallop boys have said the same thing. I'm curious to see what happens," Diodoro said. "He's a big 3-year-old and he's a big baby, still. I think with time he's only going to get better. We'll take a step back and let him develop."

Diodoro will be represented on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard by Flying P Stable's Lone Rock  in the Brooklyn Invitational Presented by Northwell Health (G2), a 12-furlong test for 4-year-olds and up on Big Sandy.