Belmont Stakes Probables

[jagger]

Thanks for the update, TJ. How long was the gallop? A pretty good clip at the end. 7 consecutive days now of galloping. Breezing Saturday, did I hear?

[TJ]

Thanks for the update, TJ. How long was the gallop? A pretty good clip at the end. 7 consecutive days now of galloping. Breezing Saturday, did I hear?

Hi jagger,
He galloped another 2 1/4 miles today...CC is scheduled to breeze a 1/2 mile Saturday, right after the break at approximately 8:45. TJ

[TJ]

NYRA coverage is getting a bit lax....only horse they focus on is California Chrome. In the mean time, after a bit of searching, Wicked Strong went to the training track to gallop, feeling so good he went there on two legs:>) Matuszak schooled in the starting gate, then galloped out of there 1 3/8ths miles. Social Inclusion also galloped 1 3/8ths miles with his left hind polo trailing 5 feet behind him. No harm done luckily....same thing happened before when training for the Wood Memorial. Maybe someone should give these guys some masking tape or a pin or maybe gift them a new set of polo's? Tonalist had a swift 1 3/8ths mile gallop, slightly under a 2 minute lick. Ride on Curlin also finished strongly the last 1/2 mile of his gallop. There are a number of ways to bring these horses into a race like the Belmont and these guys know how to get them there fit and ready. TJ

[Georgerz]

Tonalist had a 1 3/8ths mile gallop, slightly under a 2 minute lick? That would have broken any record ever for that distance, and this horse would be the second coming of Pegasus.

[TJ]

Tonalist had a 1 3/8ths mile gallop, slightly under a 2 minute lick? That would have broken any record ever for that distance, and this horse would be the second coming of Pegasus.

Hi Georgerz,
I guess you aren't aware of what the term "two minute lick" means? A two minute lick is equivalent to a horse galloping at a pace of 15 seconds to an eighth of a mile. Eight, eights to a mile, times 15 seconds equals 120 seconds or 2 minutes, hence the term "2 minute lick". Tonalist went his one and three eights mile gallop in slightly under a two minute lick, as reported by DRF clocker, Mike Welsch. That doesn't mean he went 1 3/8ths miles in two minutes which anyone knows is impossible. It means he shaded 15 seconds per eight over the entire 1 3/8th mile gallop. If you do the math, an exact two minute lick over a 1 3/8ths mile gallop, would be 2 minutes and 45 seconds. His actual time was not released, but according to the clocker, he shaded the 2 minutes and 45 seconds that would have been an exact two minute lick galloping over 11 furlongs. TJ

[Georgerz]

Never too late or old to learn new things. I was aware of galoping a mile around the 2 minute lick, the extra furlong just throw me off, besides the fact that I am not a native english speaking person.
Thank you for the explanation, now it makes good sense to me.

[TJ]

Never too late or old to learn new things. I was aware of galoping a mile around the 2 minute lick, the extra furlong just throw me off, besides the fact that I am not a native english speaking person.
Thank you for the explanation, now it makes good sense to me.

Hi George,
Yes, it can be confusing...a two minute lick simply refers to a 15 seconds clip per eight of a mile (furlong). A normal gallop is usually a 20 second clip per 1/8th and a fast gallop would be somewhere between the two. Horses seldom two minute lick an entire mile...let alone 1 3/8ths miles. Guess Clement wants to win this thing:>) TJ

[TJ]

As is the case prior to a scheduled breeze, most trainers will lighten their horses work load the day before. California Chrome went to and stood in the gate before his abbreviated gallop of 1 1/4 mile, he was full of himself in the stretch, Delgado had to stand up in the irons in order to pull him up. Wicked Strong galloped 1 3/4 miles over the training track, Social Inclusion (who will run in the Woody Stephens or the Belmont Stakes) galloped two miles, Commanding Curve galloped 2 3/8ths miles...his last 1/2 strong, Kid Cruz breezed on the Belmont Training Track, 3/4's in 1:14.48 galloped out 7/8ths 1:28.17 (Belmont status undetermined?), Ride on Curlin galloped 1 1/2 miles almost running off with exercise rider Beccia....then had a short visit to the gate, Tonalist jogged strongly back to the mile pole...turned and galloped another 1 3/8ths miles. Hopefully they will post video's of all those training today 5/30, none posted as yet? TJ

[TJ]

Only available video currently is of California Chrome today 5/30. He is scheduled to breeze tomorrow under Victor Espinosa, who is listed to ride 3 horses over the weekend at Belmont Park. He could be in NY till Wednesday, since he's due at the studio for an appearance on Letterman June 4th. Chrome had a brief visit to the gate, where he stood in and was backed out, then had his 1 1/4 mile gallop. Once again you can hear Willie Delgado talking him down. They took the camera off him just as he had to stand up in the irons in order to pull him up. Willie said his arms were burning after CC's gallop:>) The head starter at Belmont Park, Roy Williamson, seems to want to change what's been working for Chrome so far. The main reason for the rapport between Victor Espinoza and Chrome (who always had issues with the gate), is because he understood his behavior in the gate and allowed him to do it his way. Though you can see, the gate crew did have him standing squarely and calmly in the gate (maybe Chrome had a breakthrough, none of his usual rocking and head throwing:>). Watch the video below. TJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MtVh6cc ... _9YsNFhq3g

Update: California Chrome was shod this AM after training, he was scheduled to breeze a 1/2 tomorrow at 8:45 with Victor Espinoza (who will remain in NY for the week), it could be moved up to 6:30...will post the video when it's available Saturday morning, 5/31. TJ

[TJ]

Tonalist just completed his final 5/8ths breeze for the Belmont Stakes today (Sat. 5/31) . Working in company with Life In Shambles, Tonalist went his 5/8ths in 59.91 and galloping out 3/4's in 1:12.91. Keep an eye on Life In Shambles, who will run in the Easy Goer on the Belmont Stakes under card....he started 2 lengths behind Tonalist and finished on even terms. TJ

[TJ]

California Chrome worked like he's 100% ready for the Triple Chrome....I mean Crown:>) He went a 1/2 in 47.41 and galloped out...5/8ths 59.59, 3/4's 1:12.76, 7/8ths 1:26.34, and pulled up a mile in 1:40.92. Espinoza didn't ask him for a thing...he did it all on his own, very impressive. TJ

[TJ]

Social Inclusion, not to be outdone, worked a 1/2 from the 3/8ths pole (33.44) in a blistering 45.13 and galloped out 5/8ths 57.57, 3/4's 1:10.93 and pulled up 7/8th 1:24.96...outstanding move!! They are still undecided between the Belmont Stakes or the Woody Stephens? TJ

[TJ]

Commanding Curve and Ride On Curlin are expected to breeze tomorrow, Sunday June 1st....they did nothing this AM to alter those plans. Commanding Curve, after galloping 2 and 3/8ths miles yesterday, galloped an easy 1 1/8th this morning. Ride On Curlin galloped this AM and wants to run, he was very hard held at the finish of his gallop. He should work huge tomorrow. TJ

[TJ]

Samraat had his final Belmont Stakes workout at Aqueduct this AM 5/31. He went and east mile in 1:47.43 finishing well from the 1/4 pole in 24.49. TJ

[TJ]

Medal Count had his final breeze for the Belmont at Churchill Downs Saturday...he went a swift 3/4's in 1:10.60. TJ