Stately Victor gets in final Kentucky work for Belmont

Stately Victor rolled to a 4 1/4-length victory in the Blue Grass at Keeneland (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com) STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper), winner of the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland and eighth to Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) in the Kentucky Derby (G1), tuned up for a run in the June 5 Belmont S. (G1) with a sharp five-furlong workout on Tuesday at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville training center. The Mike Maker-trainee zipped over a fast track to cover five furlongs in :59 2/5 in the only work at that distance over the six-furlong oval. Exercise rider Derrick Smith was in the saddle as the three-year-old worked in fractional times of :11 3/5, :22 4/5, :34 1/5 and :46 4/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 1/5.

Maker timed the work a bit slower on his stopwatch, but was happy with the
effort by Stately Victor. He said the colt would ship to New York’s Belmont Park
on Thursday for final preparations for the 1 1/2-mile concluding jewel of the
Triple Crown.

“Time doesn’t mean anything to us, it doesn’t mean anything in the race,”
Maker said. “He’s happy and he did it the way he always works, so we’re
pleased.”

Like many in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field, Stately Victor was bounced
around a bit during the 1 1/4-mile opening jewel of the Triple Crown. But Maker
said the colt returned to the track on schedule and has done well since.

“He got whacked around, but other than that he came out of it well,” Maker
said. “He hasn’t missed a bite of grain and hasn’t lost a pound.”

Stately Victor is scheduled to complete his serious preparation for the
Belmont with a Tuesday work over the sprawling 1 1/2-mile Belmont oval.

“Hopefully we’ll draw an outside post, just slap him on cruise control and
grind it out,” Maker said. “I thought he ran a credible race in the Derby and I
think you throw him out at your own risk. Compared to some of the other horses,
if he fires his Blue Grass race back, he’s going to be competitive. I think if
he runs his Derby race back, he’s going to be competitive.”

Some trainers head to Belmont Park early to help their horses adapt to the
massive surface that has been nicknamed “Big Sandy” over the years. While Maker
would have preferred Stately Victor had a race over the surface, he has no
worries about the colt’s ability to handle the Belmont strip.

“Actually, I think the track’s going to favor him just because he’s a great
big horse,” Maker said. “We’re training on the littlest track and going to the
biggest one.”

Maker is hoping for a pace scenario that would allow jockey Alan Garcia to
lay closer to the leaders than the sizzling pace delivered by Conveyance (Indian
Charlie) and Sidney’s Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]) in the Kentucky Derby.

“Hopefully the two ‘Dudes’ (Preakness S. [G1] runner-up First Dude [Stephen
Got Even] and Lone Star Derby (G3) winner Game On Dude [Awesome Again]) will
duke it out and we’re not too far behind,” he said.

Stately Victor will bring a career record of 9-2-1-0, with earnings of
$493,213, into the Belmont S.

In other Belmont news:

At Santa Anita on Tuesday, GAME ON DUDE continued preparations for the
142nd running of the Belmont when working seven furlongs in 1:26 3/5 over the
Pro-Ride.

Trained by Bob Baffert, the gelding exits a facile 4 1/2-length triumph in
the 1 1/16-mile Lone Star Derby on May 8. Martin Garcia will retain the mount
aboard the possible pace player.

Game on Dude has earned $157,258 from
a 5-2-1-0 career line.