Lani Works for Belmont, Three Shippers Arrive

Koji Maeda's UAE Derby (UAE-II) winner Lani turned in a characteristically lengthy breeze early the morning of June 1 at Belmont Park, his penultimate work for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 11.

After walking a lap around the 1 1/2-mile oval, the Kentucky-bred colt galloped into the far turn and picked up speed before the seven-eighths pole. Under exercise rider Eishu Maruucha, Lani gained momentum nearing the five-eighths pole, breezing fractions of :12 3/5, :25, and :37 for the opening three furlongs, according to New York Racing Association clockers. The gray son of Tapit   earned an official time of 1:02.09 for five furlongs and galloped out to six furlongs in 1:15 4/5.

Lani, who regularly makes several laps around the track as part of his routine exercise regimen, wrapped up his training with another leisurely stroll over Big Sandy before heading back to his barn.

"It was quite a nice work," said Keita Tanaka, the agent representing Maeda and Japan-based trainer Mikio Matsunaga.

Lani, who will join Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator as the only two Belmont runners to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown, finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and fifth in the Preakness, a record that has done nothing to faze his connections.

"Before the Preakness (he was training) quite good, so I wouldn't say (there has been) a dramatic improvement since then," Tanaka said. "But it looks like, at least, that he's keeping his very good condition before the Preakness up to now.

"We have been looking forward to this race of these three races. This race might be the most credible for him," he added, citing the Belmont's distance, field size, and milder pace as encouraging factors for the colt.

According to Tanaka, Matsunaga will be on hand for the colt's final breeze before the Belmont June 8, while jockey Yutaka Take will arrive in New York June 8 or June 9, but is not scheduled to be aboard for the work.

While Lani was stretching his legs at Belmont, three other contenders—Creator, Cherry Wine, and Brody's Cause—each arrived by van from Churchill Downs in good order.

WinStar Farm's Creator settled into his new surroundings at Belmont just fine, according to Toby Sheets, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. 

The Arkansas Derby (gr. I) winner breezed five furlongs in 1:02 in his last work at Churchill before shipping to New York.

LAMARRA: Creator Works, Set for Trip to New York

Speaking via phone, Asmussen, who is likely to arrive to Belmont June 5, briefly discussed Creator's possible plans this week.

"Most likely he'll breeze on Monday morning," Asmussen said of Creator, a troubled 13th in the Kentucky Derby. "I haven't decided where (he'll breeze) yet, (on the main or training track). It depends on how we think the tracks will be."

Meanwhile, Dale Romans' trainees—Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine and Brody's Cause, seventh in the Kentucky Derby—arrived separately, unloading on the backside at Belmont in the late morning to continue their respective preparations for the final jewel of the Triple Crown.

One horse whose connections are on the fence about running in that race is Wild About Deb, most recently third behind Unified and Governor Malibu in the May 14 Peter Pan (gr. II). They are taking a "wait-and-see" attitude about their chestnut colt's potential participation in the Belmont.

Phil D'Amato, who May 31 watched the Eskendereya colt breeze six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 at Churchill, galloping out in 1:26 4/5, said he was pleased with how the colt has progressed since the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan. But he was reluctant to commit to the Belmont.

"We are going to see how he comes back from the breeze and see how he trains over the next few days," D'Amato said. "He came back (from one start in 2015) extremely strong as a 3-year-old and he seems to thrive from race to race. He's a horse we think a lot of, and we want to make sure we keep him going throughout the year."

The 1 1/2-mile Belmont would be the fourth start for Wild About Deb, who is owned by New Yorker Marisa Lizza. He finished second in a maiden race in November at Del Mar and was a six-length maiden winner in April over a sloppy track at Santa Anita Park prior to the Peter Pan.

Should the decision be made to enter the colt, he would ship from Louisville to Islip MacArthur Airport June 6 on the same Tex Sutton charter as Belmont hopeful Suddenbreakingnews.