Master Fencer Breezes Ahead of Belmont Stakes

Katsumi Yoshizawa homebred Master Fencer, trained by Koichi Tsunoda, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.48 May 29 on the Belmont Park main track in preparation for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

Jockey Julien Leparoux was scheduled to pilot the Japan-bred son of Just a Way, but a canceled flight kept the rider in Kentucky. Master Fencer's regular exercise rider, Yosuke Kono, was in the irons for Wednesday morning's breeze in which the horse appeared to stumble slightly inside the eighth pole, causing Kono to pull up the horse shortly after the finish line.

Kono, via translator Mitsuoki Numamoto, said Master Fencer was working well until the stumble and that the horse appeared to be in good order after cooling out at the barn.

"Up until the eighth pole, he was breezing really well and I was so satisfied," Kono said. "All of a sudden, he stumbled and gradually shifted to the left by the rail. I switched my whip to make him aware and focus to the end of the breeze. We then recovered, but it was feeling a little weird, so I tried to stop him as soon as possible.

"After the work, he had a light jog and there were no problems. I don't think it's something that will cause a major issue."

Kono said Master Fencer has flourished since his eye-catching effort in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), in which he rallied from last to finish sixth.

"After the Derby, his appetite has been really good and he's been working really good," Kono said. "At the same time, his body is growing and changing. I felt his running stride has been getting longer than before, which is a good sign for us, but maybe that was causing him a little trouble today."

Kono said the additional two furlongs in the "Test of the Champion" will benefit Master Fencer.

"He has a big heart and big lungs and is better suited to the longer distance," Kono said. "He is not the type to make crazy speed. He has a long, strong late kick. For him, the mile and a half will be a lot better."



Change of Plans for War of Will

Trainer Mark Casse has War of Will where he wants him, and he wants the son of War Front  to stay that way.

After initially planning to breeze the Preakness Stakes (G1) winner this week, Casse said Tuesday that he will instead have the bay colt gallop into the 1 1/2-mile classic.

"He's not going to breeze. We kind of feel like he's in a very happy place and relaxed right now, and we want him to be that way going 1 1/2 miles, so I don't really see any reason to," Casse said. "We know his Preakness was good, and I didn't breeze him into that. We are going to do it our way. So he is not going to breeze."



Owendale Bypasses Belmont

Rupp Racing's Owendale, a rallying third in the Preakness, will skip the June 8 Belmont Stakes.

Trainer Brad Cox said the Into Mischief  colt could consider the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.

"He's great, doing outstanding. Maybe the Ohio Derby (next)," Cox said. "(The Belmont distance) and a combination of coming back in three weeks is asking him a lot."