Red Route One Breezes for Belmont Stakes
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Red Route One at Pimlico Race Course
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Kentucky homebred Red Route One posted a half-mile breeze in :50.85 over the Belmont Park main track May 29 in preparation for the Belmont Stakes (G1) June 10 over Big Sandy.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the chestnut son of Gun Runner worked solo under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. NYRA clockers caught him galloping out five furlongs in 1:04.00.
"It was good. He seems like he got something out of it," said Asmussen's Belmont-based assistant Toby Sheets.
Red Route One, who will vie to provide Asmussen his second Belmont Stakes win after he saddled Creator to victory in 2016, was last seen finishing a closing fourth in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1). He made a mild bid down the lane under Joel Rosario to come up 4 3/4 lengths shy of the victorious National Treasure , who is expected to breeze here Tuesday in preparation for the last leg of the Triple Crown.
Red Route One has finished on the board in three graded events when second in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Southwest Stakes (G3) this year at Oaklawn Park, and third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland as a juvenile. His most recent trip to the winner's circle came two starts back when posting a determined head triumph over possible returning Belmont Stakes rival Tapit Shoes in the April 22 Bath House Row Stakes at Oaklawn.