Joseph Believes Belmont Distance Should Suit 'Skippy'

Five weeks after the top 3-year-olds answered questions about their ability to handle 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the final jewel of the Triple Crown will raise similar concerns about a distance the entrants will likely cover only once in their career.

At 1 1/2 miles, the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) presents a demanding challenge, yet trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. believes the one-lap trip around Belmont Park will be just fine for Preakness Stakes (G1) fifth-place finisher Skippylongstocking .

"I feel the mile-and-a-half will work to his benefit, so why not give it a chance?" Joseph said May 24 from his South Florida base. "The distance is the question mark. But he's even-paced, and the way he's built, frame-wise, you would think he'll handle it, but until they do it, you won't know for sure. We're optimistic he'll get the distance."

Daniel Alonso's son of Exaggerator   arrived at Belmont Park May 23 to train for the Belmont. Joseph said he will likely work him once there before the June 11 classic.

Joseph said having the top two finishers in the Preakness, Early Voting  and Epicenter , skip the Belmont made the decision easier to send Skippylongstocking back to New York, where he was third behind Mo Donegal , a probable Belmont starter, and Early Voting in the April 9 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2).

"He ran an even race in the Preakness. The top two from that race won't be at the Belmont, and that helps," Joseph said.

In the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, Skippylongstocking was sent off at 12-1 odds from the outside post in a field of nine and was seventh after the opening quarter-mile before finishing fifth, 7 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Early Voting.

The list of probable and possible starters for the Belmont also includes Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike;  Creative Minister , who was third in the Preakness; Peter Pan Stakes (G3) winner We the People , Barber Road , Ethereal Road , Golden Glider , Kuchar , and the filly Nest , runner-up in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The Belmont Stakes will be one of eight grade 1 stakes on a card that also includes the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1); the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1T); the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1); the Acorn Stakes (G1); the Longines Just A Game Stakes (G1T); Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1), and the Jaipur Stakes (G1T).