Epicharis Works for Belmont on Training Track

The numbers on a work tab should never be used to judge the quality of a workout entirely. How the horse goes about the drill and the context of the training are key aspects.

While the 1:06.06 U. Carrot Farm's Epicharis was given for his five-furlong breeze June 6 might look poor on paper, the context of the work provides a different shade. After starting at a crawl, the Japanese-bred son of Gold Allure ran the final three furlongs in :37 flat on the Belmont Park training track in his only timed move for the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1).

"We feel he looked very good and his run in the backstretch was very good," said trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara, through an interpreter, of the UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) runner-up. "I believe he will (have) a good performance in the race. ... He recovered from the long flight well—better than Dubai—so he's in good form right now."

As the colt walked and even jogged at times after the work back at the Belmont quarantine barn, Hagiwara touched on a number of topics, including the pace scenario of the 1 1/2-mile classic, how Epicharis will handle the sandy main track, and his post-race plans.

"The distance is very good for him. Over 2,000 meters is good for him," Hagiwara said. "This is a good opportunity for him. ... I think (he wants to be) off the pace. It's a mile and a half. It's better to have a position behind some horses."

As far as Belmont's track composition, which is considered to be sandier than most other American dirt tracks, Hagiwara said it shouldn't be a problem, because it is actually "firmer" than Japanese dirt tracks, which are "like sand."

Although the trainer said Epicharis is scheduled to return to Japan following the Belmont, he indicated a return to the U.S. could be possible later in the year, as long as the colt runs well in the final leg of the Triple Crown.

"The plan is to ship back to Japan after the race, but if the result is very good, we will consider running in the Breeders' Cup and other great races here in America," he said.

The most prevalent sentiment expressed during the post-work media session, however, was appreciation for the opportunity to run in the American classic, and how Epicharis' connections hope to do those watching from Japan proud.

"As a Japanese horseman, it's the most exciting thing to ever happen (to me). It's an honor to have a horse here to run in the Belmont," Hagiwara said. "I'm hoping for a good result, because (we are getting) very good support from the fans, the horsemen, and the other connections (in Japan)."