Uptowncharlybrown, Fly Down breeze; First Dude arrives

Last updated: 5/22/10 7:27 PM

Stakes winner Uptowncharlybrown exits a good third in the
Lexington S.
(Photos by Z/Keeneland Association)

UPTOWNCHARLYBROWN (Limehouse), who will make his first start for trainer
Kiaran McLaughlin in the $1 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 5, had his
penultimate work for the 1 1/2-mile classic on Saturday morning, covering a
half-mile in an easy 50 1/5 under exercise rider Alfredo Clemente.

The Fantasy
Lane Stable-owned colt went out shortly after the break over the fast track at
Belmont Park and worked in company with the promising three-year-old Trappe Shot
(Tapit), who will make his stakes debut in Woody Stephens (G2) on the Belmont
Stakes undercard.

McLaughlin, who won the 2006 Belmont with Jazil, was pleased with
what he saw.

“He did a lot in last week’s work (half-mile drill in :47 4/5), so we didn’t
think he needed to do that much today,” the trainer said. “We were looking for a
half in 48 and change, 49 — I wouldn’t have minded if they had gone a touch
faster, but there’s no money in the morning so we’ll wait for two Saturdays from
now. Both horses are doing well.”

At the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga, FLY DOWN (Mineshaft) recorded his
first work since capturing the May 8 Dwyer S. (G2) by six lengths, breezing four
furlongs in :49 2/5 over the fast track.

Trained by Nick Zito, who will also saddle Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up ICE
BOX (Pulpit) in the final leg of the Triple Crown, Fly Down opened his
three-year-old season with an allowance victory over eventual Preakness (G1)
runner-up FIRST DUDE (Stephen Got Even) in a February 21 allowance at Gulfstream
Park. He finished ninth when making his stakes debut in the Louisiana Derby (G2)
next out, but rebounded in convincing fashion in the Dwyer at Belmont.

Ten horses are considered probable for the 142nd running of the Belmont, and
Fly Down is the only one with a victory over the track.

In other Belmont news:

Preakness runner-up First
Dude is the likely Belmont pacesetter
(Wendy Uzelac/EquiSport Photos)

First Dude arrived at Belmont Park early Saturday morning and by 8:30 a.m.
(EDT) was munching away on hay in his stall in Mike Maker’s barn. Plans call for
the bay colt to jog Sunday, and then gallop up to next Saturday’s final tune-up.

“He shipped in well,” said Tammy Fox, exercise rider and assistant to trainer
Dale Romans. “Dale will come in Friday and watch him work on Saturday. He’ll go
out sometime after the renovation break (8:45).”

Owned by Donald R. Dizney, First Dude is one of two “Dudes” being pointed to
the Belmont, the other being the Lone Star Derby (G3) winner GAME ON DUDE
(Awesome Again), who is scheduled to arrive at Belmont Park on June 2 for his
Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert.

“He’s doing great,” said Baffert, who won the 2001 Belmont with Point Given.

Straight off a flight from California, trainer Alexis Barba arrived at
Belmont Park Saturday morning and was delighted with the appearance of Belmont
contender MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein).

“I haven’t seen him for a while, and he looks great,” said Barba of the bay
colt, who rallied from last to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby in his most
recent start. “He’s settled in very well.”

Barba said Make Music for Me will breeze over the Belmont Park oval for the
first time Sunday morning after the renovation back with exercise rider Andy
Durnin aboard.

Blue Grass S. (G1) upsetter STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper), eighth in the
Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to work Monday or Tuesday at Trackside Louisville.

“He will leave for New York on the 27th and then have one work at Belmont,”
trainer Mike Maker said.