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Tiago works for Belmont; Rags to Riches still being considered

Tiago will try to turn a Kentucky Derby seventh into a Belmont win (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) At Hollywood Park on Sunday, Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero TIAGO (Pleasant Tap) drilled one mile in 1:39 1/5 on the Cushion Track in advance of the June 9 Belmont S. (G1). Jockey Mike Smith was aboard for the move in company with stablemate Bullistic (Holy Bull), a seven-year-old gelding, who clocked 1:41 4/5. "It was nice and even, a good work over a track on the slow side," Smith said. Trainer John Shirreffs also termed it a "good work," adding that Tiago is scheduled to travel by plane on Wednesday. A half-brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo, Tiago finished seventh in this year's Run for the Roses. Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy), who is being considered for the Belmont, to breeze five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 over the fast main track at Belmont Park. The massive chestnut filly owns just one loss from five starts, that coming in her maiden debut last June at Churchill Downs. She returned in early January to easily take her maiden by six lengths, and has since captured the Las Virgenes S. (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in addition to the Kentucky Oaks. "She's doing well," her conditioner said, adding on her Belmont status, "There's no decision yet."

If Rags to Riches bypasses the Belmont, she could show up in the June 30 Mother Goose S. (G1) at Belmont Park.

The 1 1/2-mile "Test of Champions" could also feature another of Pletcher's runners in Grade 1 hero CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch), who ran sixth in the Kentucky Derby and improved one spot to be fifth in the Preakness S. (G1).

The chestnut colt, who had jockey John Velazquez aboard for the first two legs of the Triple Crown, is not completely out of consideration despite the fact that his regular rider is scheduled to pilot Slew's Tizzy (Tiznow) in the Belmont. Pletcher's other go-to jockey, Garrett Gomez, is also already committed to ride Hard Spun (Danzig), something which isn't fazing the Eclipse Award-winning trainer.

"All that means is that those guys can't wait around long enough for somebody to make a decision," Pletcher said. "If (Circular Quay) runs, we'll get somebody on him."

In other Belmont news:

Preakness winner CURLIN (Smart Strike) galloped two miles over Churchill Downs' fast dirt on Sunday and is set to work five furlongs early Monday morning in preparation for the Belmont. The Steve Asmussen pupil is scheduled to go to the track with his conditioner's second set of horses at approximately 6:15 a.m. (EDT).

Kentucky Derby hero STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) also stretched his legs at Churchill on Sunday, galloping 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Tracey Wilkes. Trainer Carl Nafzger said that a decision on the dark bay's running in the Belmont would be made by midweek.

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