Pharoah Continues Preparations For Belmont

American Pharoah galloping at Churchill Downs on May 24. (Photo by Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)
It was another routine gallop for American Pharoah on Sunday with the Triple Crown hopeful galloping 1 3/16 miles immediately after the track opened from the renovation break at about 8:30 a.m. with exercise rider Jorge Alvarez aboard.
Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said that he is happy with where American Pharoah is in his preparation for the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes on June 6. Trainer Bob Baffert will be flying into Louisville from California later in this week to discuss when American Pharoah will put in his only work for the Belmont Stakes. The colt is scheduled to fly to Belmont Park on the Tuesday of Belmont week.
On Sunday, Churchill Downs also announced that there will be a special 15-minute training time for the four Belmont Stakes contenders stabled at the track starting at 8:30 a.m. every morning. The track will be open to fans from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. so they are able to watch the morning exercise.
For those who cannot attend the track, a livestream will be available at http://www.kentuckyderby.com/workouts/live from 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. starting on Monday, May 25.
In New York, Belmont Stakes contender Mubtaahij breezed five furlongs in an official time of 1:03.16 with regular workmake Umgiyo. The colt has been at the track since May 15, putting in three works during that time.
MUBTAAHIJ WORKING ON MAY 24

Photo by NYRA/Susie Raisher
Tale of Verve, who was second in the Preakness Stakes last weekend galloped 1 ½ miles on Sunday for trainer Dallas Stewart. The colt, who came into the Preakness off a maiden victory, will work late in the week for the Belmont.
"He had a good long gallop all the way around the track yesterday and today under [exercise rider and apprentice jockey] Cortez Walker, who's from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  The horse looks great, his appetite is great - he had five scoops last night. He's doing really well. I'm pleased with the way he's handling things [at Belmont]," Stewart said.
The colt’s maiden victory came against older horses and Stewart thinks a lot of the colt, who he said was running too short in the races he ran in over the winter at the Fair Grounds.
"You think how many foals were born his year [approximately 21,725, according to the Jockey Club], and of those, there are only nine shots to be 1-2-3 in the classics, and he's one of them," said Stewart. "We want to get the win for him. With his breeding, the way he eats, the way he handles himself, I think he can do it."
The Belmont Stakes will take place on June 6 but the tentative field has already taken shape. Learn more about the contenders here.