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Emmanuel possible for G1 Caesars Belmont Derby following G2 Pennine Ridge score

June 5 2022

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Emmanuel could take the next step forward in the Grade 1, $1 million Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational on July 9, following a triumphant turf debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pennine Ridge.

The bay son of More Than Ready led through every point of call under Irad Ortiz, Jr., fending off late challenges from Napoleonic War and Limited Liability to win by one length while registering an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. The top-three finishers earned an automatic berth into the 10-furlong Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational on July 9, the first leg of the Caesars Turf Triple series for sophomores.

“It looked like on paper he was the main speed of the race,” Pletcher said. “He broke sharply and put himself in a good spot, rating kindly. He had more when Irad called on him, so I thought it was a good performance.”

Pletcher indicated that the Pennine Ridge was used to see if the Belmont Derby would be a realistic goal.

“Part of the reason for running in the Pennine Ridge was to not only find out about him on the turf, but it’s a logical prep for the Belmont Derby. By finishing in the top three, it’s an automatic invitation,” Pletcher said. “I haven’t had a chance to discuss with [WinStar Farm CEO] Elliott [Walden] and the WinStar team, but I would certainly think that the race is high on the list of probabilities.”

Emmanuel only added to a highly prosperous stud career for More Than Ready, who was one of Pletcher’s first Kentucky Derby contenders when finishing fourth in 2000. The veteran stallion has produced champions in both hemispheres and on dual surfaces, having sired turf female champions Rushing Fall and Uni as well as dual sprint champion Roy H.

“More Than Ready is just a remarkable horse,” Pletcher said. “To have the longevity that he’s had and factoring in that he’s as successful or maybe even more so in Australia, it’s amazing what he’s been able to do for so many years. He’s a fantastic horse and it’s amazing how good he’s been to me and my family for so many years.”

Bred in Kentucky by Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust, Emmanuel is out of the unraced Hard Spun mare Hard Cloth, who is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning multi-millionaire Hawkbill. Emmanuel was purchased for $350,000 out of Gainesway’s consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Pletcher had stakes winners in dual states on Saturday with Dynamic Oneadding a second stakes conquest to his resume in Churchill Downs’ Blame.

The 4-year-old son of Union Rags, owned by Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, finished in the money in both of his prior starts this year at graded stakes level. He finished second in last year’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and 18th in the Kentucky Derby, but captured the next-out Curlin at Saratoga.

Pletcher said Dynamic One would likely make his next start in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster on July 2 at Churchill Downs or the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban on July 9 at Belmont Park.

Grade 1-winning New York-bred Americanrevolution faded to fourth in the Blame in his first start since capturing last year’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile on December 4 at Belmont.

“I think he just got a little tired the last part. It wasn’t an ideal set up for him, but hopefully a race under his belt moves him forward,” Pletcher said.

Golden Glider posts final breeze for G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets

Golden Glider, owned by Gary Barber in partnership with Manfred and Penny Conrad, breezed a half-mile in 49.90 Sunday over Big Sandy in preparation for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 11.

NYRA clockers caught Golden Glider, with exercise rider Kylie Wellington up, through a quarter-mile in 26.20 and out in 1:02.80.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, who won the 2019 Belmont Stakes with Sir Winston, said he was pleased with the work.

“I thought he worked really well. He settled early, which is what you want out of a Belmont horse, and flew home,” Casse said.

The Ghostzapper chestnut was off-the-board in a trio of graded starts on the Kentucky Derby trail in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis [5th], Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby [4th] and Grade 1 Blue Grass [4th].

He finished a distant second last out to returning rival We the People in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 14 in the traditional local prep for the Belmont Stakes, which was contested over a good and sealed main track. The top-two finishers of the Peter Pan had their Belmont Stakes entry and starting fees waived.

Golden Glider is following a similar path to Sir Winston, who also graduated at Woodbine and competed in the Tampa Bay Derby [5th] and Blue Grass [7th] before earning a free berth in the Belmont via the Peter Pan [2nd].

Casse said he is confident that Golden Glider will get the distance and that jockey Dylan Davis can work out a stalking trip.

“I'm not worried about the mile and a half, it's just how long it's going to take him,” said Casse, with a laugh. “He's a one-paced type of horse, so I’m hoping he'll have a similar trip like Sir Winston. In his previous races, Sir Winston used to come from the clouds but in the Belmont, Joel Rosario kept him close enough and I could see the same thing happening Saturday with Dylan.”

Davis, who won his first NYRA riding title at the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet, will look to secure his first victory in a Triple Crown race.

Speaker’s Corner works for G1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap; Casa Creed and Obligatory breeze in company for BSRF

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said Godolphin’s Speaker’s Corner looked strong in his breeze Sunday over the dirt training track at Belmont Park in his final prep for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap.

Jose Lezcano guided the last-out Grade 1 Carter Handicap winner through the solo half-mile work in 48.01.

“I let him pick it up a little more,” Mott said. “He shaded 24 coming home today. He was off nice and I had him in 47 and 3. The gallop out was just normal. We let him finish up to the wire.”

The 4-year-old Street Sense colt has won four of his last five starts, beginning with a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer in October at Belmont ahead of a hard-fought half-length loss in the nine-furlong Discovery in November at Aqueduct.

The Kentucky homebred has since won his last three starts, scoring in a pair of one-mile events at Gulfstream Park in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper in January and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile in March ahead of his 4 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 9 at the Big A.

Speaker’s Corner has breezed back five times at Belmont out of the Carter score and Mott said he is pleased with how the talented colt is coming into the bout with undefeated Grade 1-winner Flightline and last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Aloha West.

“We've had a nice schedule. We've got a good foundation and plenty of time to be fresh for this race, so hopefully it works out,” Mott said. “He seems to be doing well and we got all our works in and been fortunate enough that we haven't missed anything. We did what we wanted to do.”

Speaker’s Corner earned a career-best 114 Beyer Speed Figure in his Carter score, the sixth triple-digit figure in his nine-race career and anticipation is building for his showdown with the John Sadler-trained Flightline, who posted a 118 for his score over the Mott-trained Baby Yoda in the Grade 1 Malibu on December 26.

Mott said he was impressed by Flightline’s Malibu win and is looking forward to Saturday’s test, which offers a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” berth to the Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland.

“Visually, very good. This will be his toughest task,” Mott said of Flightline. “But I'm comfortable being in my spot.”

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R.A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s multiple Grade 1-winner Channel Maker is on target for Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan, a 1 1/4-mile test for older horses.

The 8-year-old English Channel gelding will be making his fourth appearance in the Manhattan after finishing eighth in 2018 and fourth in both 2019 and 2020.

The hard-knocking Ontario-bred earned Eclipse Award honors as Champion Turf Male in 2020 after posting Grade 1 wins in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont.

Channel Maker opened his current campaign with a 1 1/4-length score in the 12-furlong Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 23 at Keeneland.

“He's doing good,” Mott said. “He'll work tomorrow. It’s[the Manhattan] 10 furlongs and I think he's probably better at 12, but there's really nowhere else to go and he's doing fine.”

George Krikorian’s Grade 1 winner War Like Goddess will be back to the work tab in the near future at Saratoga. The 5-year-old multiple graded-stakes winning daughter of English Channel captured the Grade 3 Bewitch last out in her seasonal debut on April 29 at Keeneland.

“She tied up a little bit after the race at Keeneland. We gave her a couple weeks off and she's back in training,” Mott said.

War Like Goddess won 4-of-6 starts last year, including the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Saratoga ahead of a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf to close out her campaign.

Chad Brown-trained stars on the work tab led by Rockemperor and Zandon

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown had a quartet of inner turf workers at Belmont Park on Sunday led by Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner Rockemperor, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 ahead of his assignment in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan.

The son of Holy Roman Emperor was second and fifth in the past two editions of the 10-furlong affair.

“He worked really good,” Brown said. “He likes Belmont quite a bit and the key with him is firm turf. If the turf is firm on Saturday, he will run.”

Brown also sent out Peter Brant’s In Italian, winner of Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3 Honey Fox in March, and Juddmonte’s Seek Again winner Masenbreeze four furlongs in company in 50.40. The former is preparing for Saturday’s Grade 1 $500,000 Longines Just a Game and exits a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs on May 7.

The final of Brown’s foursome was Grade 3 Gallorette winner Technical Analysis - like Masen, a progeny of Kingman - who worked four furlongs in 48.80.

Brown said Masen is targeting the Grade 3, $250,000 Poker, a one-mile turf test for older horses on June 18 at Belmont.

“Mason is training to the Poker and In Italian goes in the Just a Game and both worked very well,” Brown said. “As far as Technical Analysis, I’m not sure what to do with her yet, but she worked well and just won at Pimlico.”

Grade 1 Kentucky Derby third Zandon had his first work back since that effort, covering a half-mile over Big Sandy in 49.98.

Brown said the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course remains the long-term goal for Jeff Drown’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes victor, who will first target the Spa’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy on July 30.

“It was his first work back and he went beautifully. He is going to the Jim Dandy,” Brown said.

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Trainer Brendan Walsh’s Santin put in a work over the grass, as well, as he prepares to try to back up his Grade 1 Turf Classic victory at Churchill Downs with a win in the Manhattan. The Godolphin homebred breezed four furlongs in 49.21, donning the blinkers that seemingly elevated his form four weeks ago.

“He just had a nice gallop around there this morning and everything is good,” Walsh said. “I wanted to get him familiar with the track and he seemed to like it. I am very happy with him.”

Rich Strike focused in gallop for G1 Belmont Stakes

Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike showed focus and professionalism in his daily exercise over the main track on Sunday at Belmont Park, the latest move in his preparations for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 11.

Rich Strike schooled in the Belmont paddock before waiting patiently in the tunnel for his spin around Big Sandy. The Keen Ice chestnut took a few turns around the tunnel in the company of about a half-dozen other trainees and remained unfazed.

Regular exercise Gabriel Lagunes then guided Rich Strike to the center of the racetrack and asked him to gallop one lap around the 1 1/2-mile oval, a cutback from yesterday’s two-mile exercise. Rich Strike motored down the lane with his head down and fully focused on his work, digging into the fast dirt as he passed the finish and eased up just before the turn.

“We backed him up a half a mile today and tomorrow we’ll probably let him have another two-mile gallop,” said trainer Eric Reed. “He’s definitely enjoying himself and came back really perky. He’s appreciating everything.”

Rich Strike is expected to continue his daily routine of galloping and schooling up until the Belmont Stakes. He will likely school in the paddock during the races on Thursday or Friday.

Gufo works in company with Plum Ali for G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan

Otter Bend Stables’ dual Grade 1 winner Gufo breezed four furlongs in 49.60 seconds in company with multiple stakes winner Plum Ali [49.66] on Sunday over Belmont Park’s inner turf, his latest preparations for the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 11 at Belmont.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Gufo’s work was the second since a game runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Man o’ War over firm Belmont turf on May 14 where he went seven-wide in the turn and finished a length behind upset winner Highland Chief.

“Gufo worked great and is ready for the Manhattan,” Clement said. “He tried very hard and ran very well in the Man o’ War.”

Gufo won his first Grade 1 in the 2020 Belmont Derby en route to a third-place effort in last year’s Manhattan. His second Grade 1 triumph came at Saratoga Race Course with a determined neck victory over Japan in the Sword Dancer.

Also on the Clement work tab on Sunday were Royal Ascot hopefuls Slipstream and Pizza Bianca. NYRA clockers had Slipstream, with Joel Rosario up, working a half-mile in 48.06 in company with maiden winner Merci [49.06] while Pizza Bianca worked the same distance in 51.22 in tandem with Canisy [51.20].

Jump Sucker Stable’s Slipstream made his 3-year-old debut with a last out win in the 5 1/2-furlong Palisades in April at Keeneland, an effort that convinced his connections to try him in the six-furlong Group 1 Commonwealth on June 17 at Ascot. The More Than Ready colt made a cutback in the Palisades after finishing sixth in the one-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Bobby Flay’s Pizza Bianca gave Clement his first Breeders’ Cup victory when she posted a half-length victory over Malavath in the Juvenile Fillies Turf to cap off her juvenile campaign. She kicked off her sophomore season with a close second in the Memories of Silver in April at Aqueduct and followed with a strong victory in the Hilltop on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course.

“Slipstream had a nice work and will be aimed for the Commonwealth. He’s leaving today for Kentucky and then will fly to Newmarket. Pizza Bianca leaves today, too,” Clement said.

Pizza Bianca will target the one-mile Group 1 Coronation on June 17 at Ascot.

Cibolian breezes over turf in prep for G2 Belmont Gold Cup

Colonel Stable and Jonathan Wilmot’s stakes-placed Cibolian breezed four furlongs in 48.89 seconds over the Belmont Park inner turf Sunday in preparation for the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup, a two-mile marathon turf event for older horses on June 10.

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset, who was aboard for the work, said the way Cibolian breezed was a pleasant surprise.

“I had the horse for a year and a half and never worked him on the grass ever. He’s always worked on the dirt and he’s never been a good worker on the dirt,” Brisset said. “He does the minimum and does enough. Today was really good - 48 and four, 1:01 and one. He felt great. It looks like he’s recovered very quick. I’m very happy with that work.”

Cibolian was last seen finishing a close fourth in the Grade 3 Louisville on May 21 at Churchill Downs. The gelded son of Temple City had a troubled trip where he stalked the pace in fifth on an inside path under Chris Landeros before losing position in the final turn. Cibolian re-rallied gamely when taken to the three-path by Landeros but couldn’t make up enough ground and was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Cellist.

Cibolian will be making his first start at two miles on three week’s rest, but Brisset said he should be up for the challenge.

“That wasn’t our initial plan to come back in three weeks like this, but based on what was nominated, we feel that if the horse is doing good enough, he’s got a shot in there,” said Brisset.

Brisset also noted that Belmont Stakes hopeful We the People exited his half-mile breeze on Saturday in good order and that all is in order for a run in the final leg of the Triple Crown.

“That was one of his best works ever,” Brisset said of the four-furlong drill in 47.59. “It was a little quicker than what we were looking for, but it didn’t feel like he was going that fast. The way he did it was exactly what you’re looking for a week out from the race. He cleaned his feed tub and got shod, and we’ll bring him back tomorrow to gallop a mile.”

We the People enters the “Test of the Champion” off an impressive effort in the Grade 3 Peter Pan where he went gate-to-wire over the good and sealed main track to post a 10 1/4-length victory.