Pletcher Duo Breezes for Belmont

Beating the light rain that began to fall at Belmont Park June 3, Todd Pletcher worked both his Belmont Stakes (gr. I) hopefuls, Destin and Stradivari, on the training track.

The notable news coming out of the breezes is that the status of Stradivari, the fourth-place finisher in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), was upgraded to confirmed for the June 11 classic. Destin has been training with an eye on the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown since his sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Destin, with jockey Javier Castellano in the saddle, was the first to work and completed his half-mile breeze in :49.56 in company with stablemate Awesome Gent. Destin, wearing the blinkers he runs in, was on the outside of Awesome Gent, winner of the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack earlier this year. They matched each other, stride for stride, throughout the move. The early splits for the work, according to Pletcher's stopwatch, were :13 1/5 for the opening eighth and :25 flat for the first quarter. Destin's gallop out to five furlongs was 1:02 2/5, 1:15 1/5 for six furlongs, and 1:28.60 for seven furlongs.

Next on deck was Stradivari, with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in the irons. They were joined by Decorated Soldier in the half-mile work, which was recorded in :50.55. The opening splits were :12 4/5 and :25 1/5, with gallop-out times of 1:02 4/5, 1:15 1/5, and 1:29 2/5.

Stradivari and Decorated Soldier, the fifth-place finisher in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), finished on nearly even terms, but the former emerged with a few-length advantage during the gallop-out around the turn.

Two hours after Stradivari's work, Pletcher indicated he had spoken with Stradivari's connections, who gave the green light for the son of Megdaglia d'Oro to start in the Belmont Stakes.

"I was satisfied with this morning's work, and assuming he comes out of it well and we're happy with him between now and entry day, yes (he's running)," Pletcher said.

Likely Belmont favorite Exaggerator galloped 1 1/2 miles on the main track Friday morning at Belmont Park. The Preakness winner is expected to gallop a two-minute lick June 4 and walk June 5, according to Julie Clark, an assistant to trainer Keith Desormeux. Exaggerator is also expected to work June 7, his final major move before the Belmont.

"I was thrilled. I thought he was perfect," Clark said. "I couldn't have asked for any better. He started at a nice, easy pace and picked it up real relaxed. He was well within himself and cooled off by the time he came off the track."

Dale Romans' newly arrived Belmont prospects Cherry Wine and Brody's Cause got a handle for Big Sandy Friday morning, galloping a lap around Belmont Park's main track shortly after the renovation break.

"They look good and they're training great," Romans said. "They both galloped by here as good as a horse can gallop."

With jockey Joel Rosario aboard, Belmont contender Governor Malibu hit the main track early Friday morning. Breezing in company, the son of Malibu Moon   completed five furlongs in just more than a minute, according to trainer Christophe Clement.

Encouraged by the work, Clement will weigh his options on whether he would keep things light or give Governor Malibu another maintenance work before next Saturday's race.

"It was a strong work," the trainer said. "Five-eighths in a minute and change and three-quarters went in (1:13) and change. He looked very fit. Joel was very happy with the work. We've done everything we've had to do on our side. Now it's up to him. The only question remaining is if I train him to the race or give him a blowout on Thursday or Friday of next week. I'm not sure, I just have to think about it."

Trojan Nation will arrive at Belmont Park either June 6 or June 7 to prepare for a Belmont Stakes start, trainer Patrick Gallagher said by phone. Trojan Nation will breeze one final time at Santa Anita Park June 4.

"He's scheduled to work tomorrow and will probably go either five-eighths or three-quarters, somewhere around there," Gallagher said. "Once he's at Belmont, he'll gallop on the track and see the place."

Still a maiden, Trojan Nation's only previous start in New York resulted in his best effort to date, when he finished second in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct at odds of  81-1.