Final works on tap for Belmont hopefuls

Stately Victor arrived at Belmont Park on Thursday (EquiSport Photos)

Belmont S. (G1) hopeful STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper) arrived at
Belmont Park a few hours behind schedule Thursday, but no worse for the
trip.

“Everything went smoothly, but the plane was a little late,” trainer
Mike Maker said at his Belmont barn Friday morning. “I think they had
some mechanical issues. We got here at about 7:45 (p.m. EDT) last
night.”

Maker said that the bay, owned by Thomas and Jack Conway, galloped an
easy 1 1/4-miles Thursday morning before preparing to ship.

“He’ll gallop Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. and breeze Monday or
Tuesday after the break,” Maker said. “Usually I prefer just to ship
right on top of a race, but I thought that coming here, I would prefer
to have a work over this track. Another positive on our side is that
Alan Garcia (jockey) has won a Belmont, but more importantly, he fits
the horse well.”

First Dude will try to live up to his name in the Belmont (EquiSport Photos)

Also stabled in Maker’s barn is Donald R. Dizney’s expected Belmont
starter FIRST DUDE (Stephen Got Even), who walked the shed row after
training Friday, pausing briefly before Stately Victor’s stall during
one of his circuits.

“Look, he’s scared of Stately Victor,” Maker joked of the Dale Romans charge.
“Everything is fine. Our horse is happy and healthy, so here we are.”

First Dude was third behind Stately Victor in the Blue Grass and rallied to
be second by three parts of a length in the Preakness S. (G1) last out.

Arriving Thursday night on the same flight as Stately Victor was STAY PUT
(Broken Vow), who also appears to be acclimating to his new surroundings,
trainer Steve Margolis said by phone from Kentucky Friday morning.

“He shipped well and he’s getting settled,” said Margolis, who trains Stay
Put for Richard, Bertram, and Elaine Klein. “He came up with my longtime
assistant Loren Diego, who rides him in the mornings. He’ll gallop (Saturday)
after the break, then work a half-mile and gallop out five-eighths first thing
after the break on Sunday.”

Stay Put enters the Belmont off an allowance victory on the Kentucky Derby
undercard at Churchill Downs. All three of the chestnut colt’s wins have come
around two turns.

Fly Down dominated the Dwyer by six lengths (Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com)

In addition to Stay Put, a number of other Belmont hopefuls are scheduled to
have their final serious works for the race over the holiday weekend.

First Dude will go out Saturday morning on the main track following the
renovation break, with Romans in attendance.

UPTOWNCHARLYBROWN (Limehouse), third in the Lexington S. (G2) in his most
recent start, is also slated to go on the main track after the break Saturday,
said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Dwyer S. (G2) runner-up DROSSELMEYER (Distorted Humor) will likely work
Sunday, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Pasadena S. scorer MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein), fourth in the Kentucky
Derby, will have his final tune-up Sunday morning for trainer Alexis Barba.