Pletcher Horses Top Belmont Work Tab

Karen Johnson contributed to this report

It was a busy day for trainer Todd Pletcher at Belmont Park the morning of May 22 as three of his hopefuls for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) worked at the New York oval.



Working before the track maintenance break were Carpe Diem and Madefromlucky, who went in unison in :59.01 for five furlongs. Jockey John Velazquez was aboard Carpe Diem and exercise rider Patty Krotenko was up on Madefromlucky. The time for both horses, according to New York Racing Association clockers, was the fastest of 20 at the distance on the day.



Carpe Diem, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner, is coming into the 1 1/2-mile Belmont off a 10th-place finish in the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and Madefromlucky won the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) last out on May 9.

"I think the track was fast, from what I gathered," Pletcher said of Carpe Diem and Madefromlucky's swift move. "It was a good and fast work. They both did well. Both were enthusiastic and weren't asked hard for what they did. They both galloped out strongly."

After the renovation break, Pletcher's Materiality, sixth in the Kentucky Derby, and Stanford—who was scratched from the Run for the Roses and is not being pointed to the Belmont—worked in company. The final time for five furlongs for both horses was 1:00.04. Velazquez was aboard Materiality.

Although he posted a slighter slower time, Pletcher was satisfied with Materiality's work as well.

"They went off a little bit slower the first part of their work (compared to Carpe Diem and Madefromlucky), but finished very well," Pletcher said of Materiality and Stanford's move. I was really happy with all the horses this morning."

Pletcher said not to read anything into Velazquez being on Materiality for his work. Javier Castellano had the mount on Materiality in the Kentucky Derby. Velazquez rode Carpe Diem. Pletcher has yet to confirm rider assignments.

Pletcher's Belmont hopefuls will work again next Friday, May 29, weather permitting. 

"Hopefully, after their next works will be able to finalize our plans," Pletcher said.

Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Frosted, who was fourth in the Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.45, 12th-best of the day.



JOHNSON: Frosted Continues Working Toward Belmont

In a Belmont Stakes work at Churchill Downs, Conquest Curlinate breezed five furlongs in :59 4/5 for trainer Mark Casse, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 and seven panels in 1:26. The time was fourth-best for 20 working the distance early.



Conquest Curlinate finished second to Madefromlucky in the Peter Pan after also placing second in the Illinois Derby (gr. II).

Norman Casse, assistant to his father Mark, was pleased with the move and says the Ontario-bred son of Curlin   should handle the 1 1/2-mile distance. "The way he runs he doesn't show a whole lot of early speed," Norman Casse said. "He's always been a much more effective route horse obviously, so we think the distance is just perfect for him. Plus, he has a race over the track which we think is going to be pretty important. He obviously liked it."

In other Belmont news, Jerry Crawford's Keen Ice breezed six furlongs in 1:15 May 21. Trainer Dale Romans' partner Tammy Fox spoke highly of how the son of Curlin is preparing for the race. "As of yesterday, he's coming into the race really, really good," Fox said. "The work I thought was super. He galloped out really well."

Fox said that Keen Ice will likely work twice before shipping to Belmont Park on Tuesday, June 2. She went on to say that she is hopeful of how the horse will handle the deep and sandy track at Belmont. "I hope he will," Fox said. "It takes a special horse to come in there and run over that racetrack but he's a big horse and a big grinder. I think he'll handle it just fine."