Frammento 'Developing Nicely' for Belmont

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) hopeful Frammento breezed a half-mile on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course May 23 as trainer Nick Zito looks to pull off another upset of a Triple Crown bid.

 

With exercise rider Maxine Correa aboard, Frammento covered the distance in :49.30, a time that ranked 11th of 50 moves at the distance. 

 

The son of Midshipman   galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.99 after clocking the first eighth of a mile in :12.30 and the opening quarter :24.26. The workout followed a three-furlong breeze in :36 4/5 over the same surface May 14, in his first work since finishing 11th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 2.

 

"He worked great," Zito said of Saturday's workout. "We're happy with it. He galloped out nicely. Everything went good. He has been developing nicely. I'm excited about going to the Belmont. It's nice to have another chance."

 

Frammento, owned by Nena Moss of Mossarosa LLC, is expected to be Zito's 25th starter for the Belmont. Both of Zito's Belmont wins spoiled Triple Crown bids. In 2004, Birdstone   beat Smarty Jones  , and in 2008, Da' Tara defeated an eased Big Brown  . Frammento will be out to deny Kentucky Derby and Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner American Pharoah in the June 6 Belmont.

 

Since his first Belmont starter in 1984, when Morning Bob finished third, Zito has finished second seven times in the third jewel of the Triple Crown: Thirty Six Red (1990), Strike the Gold (1991), Go for Gin (1994), Star Standard (1995), A P Valentine (2001), Andromeda's Hero (2005), and Fly Down (2010). He has also been third with Royal Assault (2004) and Anak Nakal (2008).

 

"We always have a good Belmont," Zito said. "Our horses always run good in the Belmont. That's what you hope happens. Hopefully, we'll be OK."

 

Prior to the Derby, Frammento was third in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).

 

"He didn't get the best of trips," Zito said of Frammento's Derby run. "He got bumped around at the start. He was doing OK in the race until another horse knocked him off stride, although, my horse still kept running."

 

Zito suggested that Frammento is scheduled for one more workout, probably next May 30, over the Oklahoma Training Track. From there, he should arrive at Belmont Park June 3.