A quartet of Belmont Stakes contenders turned in workouts this morning, covering distances from a half-mile to one-mile and at both Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.
At Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby (gr. I) third-place finisher Dullahan went out early in the morning and breezed a mile in 1:43 flat, galloping out nine furlongs in 1:57. The work was his second since the Derby, following a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 1/5 turned in last Saturday. The son of Even the Score seems to be training exceptionally well, and appears to have maintained good form since the Derby.
Up at Belmont Park, a trio of horses turned in their next-to-final Belmont works, led by the Kenny McPeek-trained pair of Atigun and Unstoppable U. The first-mentioned colt, who won an allowance race in impressive fashion on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby, breezed a half-mile in the sharp time of :46.69, signaling that he is in very good form indeed and further cementing the opinions of those who feel he could be a live Belmont longshot.
As for Unstoppable U, he also turned in a quick time, going five-eighths in :59.22. According to DRF.com, "A horse from another barn broke off about six to eight lengths in front of Unstoppable U, who seemed eager to go after that horse. Unstoppable U went his first quarter in 23.23 and three furlongs in 34.80.
As Unstoppable U got within a couple of lengths of that horse in the stretch, Alvarado took a hold of Unstoppable U, not wanting his horse to go too fast. Unstoppable U did not change leads until after the wire and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.89."
The complete article can be viewed here: http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-stakes-2012-street-life-mcpeek-pair-drill-over-main-track
The other Belmont contender to breeze was Street Life, who went a half-mile in a strong :47.82. Trained by Chad Brown, the colt worked in company with allowance horse Mister Pippit and galloped out in impressive finish. Coming off of third-place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), in which he made up a great deal of ground in the stretch, he appears to be a colt that would relish the twelve-furlong distance of the Belmont, assuming the early pace is sufficient to set up his late run.
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Yesterday, it was announced that an unusual equipment change will be forced upon I'll Have Another in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The colt will not be allowed to wear a nasal strip, a piece of equipment which the colt has worn in all of his victories this year, including the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
A detailed article on the subject can be found at DRF.com: http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-stakes-2012-stewards-wont-permit-ill-have-another-wear-nasal-strip-belmont-stakes
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Who was the last horse to win the Triple Crown? Affirmed. What major Derby prep race did he win prior to sweeping the Crown? The Santa Anita Derby. Just thought I'd point that out . . .
-Keelerman
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