Gormley Works for Possible Belmont Start
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Photo: Zoe Metz
Gormley, with Victor Espinoza aboard, works at Santa Anita Park
John Shirreffs was the picture of a cautiously optimistic horse trainer May 27 at Santa Anita Park.
Before and after Jerry and Ann Moss' Gormley logged his second workout since a ninth-place finish in the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Shirreffs emphasized that, although the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) is under consideration, nothing is set in stone.
"I keep telling people, but it doesn't seem like they're listening," Shirreffs said with a laugh. "We'll see how he works and I'll talk with the owners. ... I think he worked well enough today. This work wouldn't eliminate him from the Belmont, anyway. We'll wait a little and see if he keeps improving."
Gormely covered six furlongs in 1:14 flat Saturday at Santa Anita under regular jockey Victor Espinoza. The Malibu Moon colt started about four lengths behind workmate and Shirreffs-trained stablemate Tiz Adore, moved alongside his target in the turn, and finished about five lengths ahead at the wire.
"That's what John wanted—nothing crazy," Espinoza said. "Just a little maintenance for him. The idea was to track the other horse—to keep me company for the first five-eighths—and after that I was moving along."
If Gormley is entered in the Belmont, Espinoza said the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner should not be hampered by the stretch out to 1 1/2 miles.
"There's no question about it. The distance is not going to be an issue for him," Espinoza said. "He's in good shape and he's bred to go long."
Also on the work tab for her final drill in preparation for the June 3 Beholder Mile (G1) was champion Stellar Wind. The John Sadler-trained daughter of Curlin was clocked in :59 4/5 (although Sadler had her a bit slower, in 1:00 2/5) for five furlongs.
"Nice and smooth," Sadler said of the mare who won her 5-year-old debut in the April 14 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. "I had her in (1:00 2/5) and out (to six furlongs) in 1:13. Very nice. We're all set and we'll keep our fingers crossed for next week."