Destin Work is 'Stamina Builder' for Belmont

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) hopeful Destin put in his penultimate work before the June 11 classic at Belmont Park May 27.

Working in company with graded stakes winner Stanford on the training track after the renovation break, Destin covered five furlongs in 1:01 4/5. Ridden in the breeze by exercise rider Hector Ramos, Destin, working on the outside of his stablemate, was on even terms with Stanford throughout the work. At the wire, Stanford, who is being pointing to the Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Mile Handicap (gr. I) on the Belmont Stakes undercard, held a head advantage. The splits were :13; :25; :36 4/5 with a gallop-out clocking of 1:15 for six furlongs.

Todd Pletcher, who trains the son of Giant's Causeway for Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, said Destin's work was spot-on.

"We were just looking for a real solid five-furlong [work] with a strong gallop-out," Pletcher said back at his barn. "He's coming off a mile-and-quarter race—we think we have a fit horse and we are just trying to maintain that conditioning. It was a stamina-building breeze today. I thought he traveled well and galloped out strongly. And he seems to have recuperated quickly [from the work] coming back to the barn."

Destin's latest work is his second since finishing sixth in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Earlier this year, the $400,000 Keeneland September sale yearling purchase won the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) and Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II). He broke his maiden last October at Belmont Park in his career debut.

"Destin has been a horse who has been in strong training since September, October of last year," Pletcher remarked. "He's had a good steady series of not only races, but strong workouts. I think it's that foundation built up over a period of time that really helps you, hopefully, go a mile and a half." 

Pletcher, who has won the Belmont Stakes twice, with Rags to Riches in 2007 and Palace Malice   in 2013, said he is "strongly considering" running Stradivari in the Belmont Stakes as well. Stradivari finished fourth in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), which marked his stakes debut for his breeder, John D. Gunther, and partners Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.

"(Stradivari) came out of the Preakness really well," Pletcher said. "I've liked the way he has trained since then. But we will spend the next seven, eight days monitoring his gallops, and probably schedule a breeze next Friday or Saturday, and that will be the determining factor. We'll talk to the connections and make sure that everybody is on board. But right now, I like the way he is training and I'm strongly considering it."

Pletcher said Javier Castellano will have the mount on Destin in the Belmont Stakes. If Stradivari runs, John Velazquez, the colt's pilot in the Preakness, has the return mount.