Creator Works, Set for Trip to New York

WinStar Farm's Creator, winner of the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), worked five furlongs May 30 at Churchill Downs and is expected to travel to New York May 31 to continue preparations for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Creator, with Florent Geroux aboard, worked in company with stablemate Gold Hawk. The 3-year-old Tapit   colt was timed in 1:02 after three furlongs in :37 4/5, and then galloped out to six furlongs in 1:15 and seven furlongs in 1:28 4/5.

In his last start May 7, Creator finished a troubled 13th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

"He felt really good," Geroux told Churchill media officials. "That was my first time on his back. It was a steady work; nothing crazy, but it was nice and steady and he felt very good."

Trainer Steve Asmussen said the workout was intended to get Creator to go 1 1/2 miles June 11 at Belmont Park.

"We wanted to keep him in a nice long rhythm," Asmussen said. "The Belmont is on his agenda, so staying is going to come into play. I thought that he put in a nice, smooth work today and galloped out really well. I think that his weight has rebounded nicely since the Derby.

"You get a lot of comfort from his pedigree and how much stay is in his pedigree," Asmussen said of Creator, who was bred in Kentucky by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares I out of the Peruvian mare Morena. "He is a very efficient horse; I'm just a little concerned right now with the possible pace scenario with this year's Belmont. But I think we've seen his attitude has improved and his energy level is very high right now."

Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Creator for the first time in the Belmont, Asmussen said.

Another Asmussen trainee, Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Gun Runner, worked five furlongs in 1:01 Monday morning at Churchill. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Three Chimneys Farm, and Besilu Stables, the 3-year-old Candy Ride   colt galloped out to six furlongs in 1:14 3/5 and seven furlongs in 1:28 2/5.

Gun Runner, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby and passed on the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), is being pointed to the $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles June 18 at Churchill.

"With Gun Runner and Creator there is a lot of the year left and they're both top-class horses, so we'll get to prove that before the year is over," said Asmussen, who will be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in August in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.