Hard Love on Track for Belmont Derby

Trainer Jonathan Thomas didn't get the prep race he initially had in mind for Robert LaPenta, Augustin Stable, and Madaket Stables' Hard Love , but said he still plans on running the Kitten's Joy   ridgling in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T), the first leg of the Turf Triple series, July 10 at Belmont Park. 

Hard Love was entered in the May 29 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T), but scratched when inclement weather forced the event onto the main track. Thomas went to Plan B and ran Hard Love in a nine-furlong allowance optional claiming race against older horses on the turf in the Belmont Stakes Day finale June 5. 

Piloted by Manny Franco, Hard Love tracked the pace from second, battled to the outside of pacesetter Desert Peace  in the stretch drive, and prevailed by a head. 

"We felt like we had him ready for the Pennine Ridge," Thomas said. "It was a bit of a gut punch having it come off the turf, so we were lucky the allowance race was in the book. We felt like we got a nice prep into him for the Belmont Derby. Based off what we've seen, it looks like the further the better. He is an efficient moving horse, and his pedigree suggests the further the better. He should appreciate the added distance."

Thomas is targeting a second Belmont Derby victory having won in 2018 with the versatile Catholic Boy  , who proceeded to win the Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) that year.

"There are some similarities in his physique," Thomas said of Hard Love. "He's a big leggy colt and also a very genuine horse. He seems to show up every time. He's a little more laid back in his disposition than Catholic Boy. But the biggest difference is that I am almost certain he's not the same horse on the dirt. He's a turf horse."

Thomas has two options in mind for Augustin Stable homebred Burning Bright , who won a 1 1/4-mile off-the-turf allowance optional claimer May 30 at Belmont by 7 1/4 lengths.

The 4-year-old Empire Maker gelding out of 2008 champion grass mare Forever Together  could run in the July 5 Grand Couturier Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on Belmont's turf, or the July 17 United Nations Stakes (G1T) going 1 3/8 miles at Monmouth Park.

Running in the Grand Couturier would place Hard Love against Woodslane Farm homebred and Tom Albertrani-trained Sadler's Joy , who missed the May 8 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) and June 4 Belmont Gold Cup (G2T) due to rain and the potential of softer turf.

Gufo Possible for Sword Dancer

Trainer Christophe Clement said he has been delighted thus far with Otter Bend Stables' Gufo  following two late-closing efforts against grade 1 company to commence his 4-year-old season. 

The consistent Declaration of War  colt kept a never-off-the-board record intact when making up 17 lengths to finish a late-closing third in the June 5 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Belmont. He arrived at the 10-furlong engagement off a narrow runner-up finish in the Man o' War, where he made a five-wide move in upper stretch and came up a nose shy of victory. 

"He was a bit erratic in the Manhattan. We've got to work on that," Clement said. "I may put blinkers on him, I'm not sure yet. We'll come back somewhere going a mile and a half or mile and three-eighths and get him going longer." 

Clement mentioned the Aug. 28 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) going 1 1/12 miles at Saratoga Race Course as a likely target and said Gufo, winner of the 2020 Belmont Derby, could run once before said start. 

Clement has twice won the Sword Dancer, with Winchester  (2011) and Honor Glide  (1999). 

Also pursuing grade 1 turf action from the Clement stable is Plum Ali , who displayed a strong turn of foot with a close second when chasing a leisurely pace in the June 3 Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) at Belmont. Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Michael Caruso, Plum Ali will target the July 10 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T), the first leg of the Turf Triple series for fillies, run at 10 furlongs.

"She should get the distance," Clement said. "She came out of the Wonder Again in good shape. We'll work her next week."

Clement has won the Belmont Oaks twice when raced as the Garden City Handicap with Miss World  (2009) and Voodoo Dancer  (2001). 

Get Smokin Breezes Bullet

Get Smokin  looked fired up June 13, recording a bullet five-furlong breeze in 1:00 3/5 over the Belmont inner turf course in preparation for the June 20 Poker Stakes (G3T) for 4-year-olds and up going one mile at Belmont. 

The Tom Bush trainee is coming off a three-quarters length victory in the May 22 Seek Again Stakes over the same course and distance as the Poker.

"He's had a good couple of weeks since the race," Bush said. "We're running him back a little closer than in the past; some of his races have been spaced out pretty far apart. This one will be about a month, but that suits us right now. We wanted to put a few races a little closer together if we could manage it."

Owned by Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust, Get Smokin won his first stakes in last fall's Hill Prince Stakes (G2T) at Belmont. The 4-year-old Get Stormy   gelding opened this season, in which he is 2-for-3 so far, with a victory in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs.