Governor Malibu Has Strong Work for Belmont

Governor Malibu, the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) runner-up, worked at Belmont Park May 27 with an eye on the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

On an unusually warm and muggy spring morning, the New York-bred son of Malibu Moon   covered five furlongs solo on the main track in 1:01 1/5 under jockey Joel Rosario. Wearing the blinkers he races in, Governor Malibu commenced his work at the half-mile pole.

His opening splits were :23 4/5 and :48 1/5. His six-furlong gallop-out time, according to New York Racing Association clockers, was 1:14 2/5.

As trainer Christophe Clement focused his binoculars on his horse as he rounded the clubhouse turn on the gallop-out, he said: "That's a tremendous work. He did it on his own without the jockey being too aggressive."

Clement, who won the 2014 Belmont Stakes with Peter Pan winner Tonalist  , trains Governor Malibu for his breeder, Richard Leahy of Oak Bluff Stables; Jump Sucker Stable, a partnership group headed by Steven Duncker, a member of the New York Racing Association board of directors; and three of his friends, George Loening, George Walker, and Kevin Warsh. Clement signed the ticket on the colt when he went through the ring as a 2-year-old at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale with a final bid of $135,000.

Clement said the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes is an "ambitious" spot for Governor Malibu, who has a record of 2-4-1 in seven starts, but noted the horse has earned the right to step it up in the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Governor Malibu won the restricted Gander Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in February in his fifth career start. In the Peter Pan at Belmont May 14, Governor Malibu closed resolutely to finish second behind the undefeated Unified while beaten less than a length.

"When you run so well in the Peter Pan, I had to consider the Belmont Stakes," Clement said. "He has never stopped stepping up. We came from a New York-bred stakes in the winter to the (Federico Tesio), which he won but was disqualified (for interference). We ran a really good race in the Peter Pan, finishing well all the way to the wire.

"He wants to go long on dirt, he trains at Belmont, and he belongs to people who really enjoy New York racing. It is ambitious, but I think he deserves a shot at it."

Clement said Governor Malibu would work again either June 3 or June 4. Rosario, who won the Belmont for Clement aboard Tonalist, has been assigned the mount on Governor Malibu.