Nehro turns in strong work for Belmont

Nehro (on the rail) turned in a strong pre-Belmont Stakes work alongside Derby Trial runner-up Dominus (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) NEHRO (Mineshaft), runner-up to Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) in the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1), displayed his readiness for the $1 million Belmont S. (G1) with a sharp six-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs. Nehro, with regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas in the irons, worked inside of three-year-old stablemate Dominus (Smart Strike), the runner-up to Machen (Distorted Humor) in the April 30 Derby Trial S. (G3), and covered the distance over a fast track in 1:12 1/5. Dominus was credited with the same time. The six-furlong move was a sharp effort for Nehro, who has also registered runner-up finishes in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Louisiana Derby (G2), and it got a busy Memorial Day off to a good start for trainer Steve Asmussen. “I was very pleased with the move,” Asmussen said. “Obviously we stuck Nehro in company and asked him for a good work. It was the best work I’ve seen him lay down.”

Nehro covered the six furlongs in fractional times of :12, :24 1/5, :36 1/5,
:48 and 1:00. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5 and a mile in 1:39.

After a rainy spring in Kentucky and a seemingly endless run of wet training
surfaces, Asmussen was happy to see clear skies and a fast track for Nehro’s
move.

“In his defense, it’s probably the first time he’s got to work on a fast
track in about two months,” Asmussen said. “I think you saw why we were not
wanting a sloppy track for the Derby.”

The work is the final major training move for Nehro at Churchill Downs prior
to the 1 1/2-mile final jewel of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park. Asmussen has
a barn and division at the New York track and he said Nehro would probably
depart for Belmont Park on Thursday evening, with a final pre-Belmont S. work
over the track’s sprawling dirt surface early next week.

“That’s been something we’ve talked about that we had to get through this
work to decide,” Asmussen said. “You don’t mind that, having the barn there and
everything.”

It was a hectic morning for Asmussen, who supervised several works at
Churchill Downs on Monday before departing shortly before 9 a.m. (EDT) to catch
a flight to Texas, where he was to saddle four horses competing at Lone Star
Park.

“I feel really good about Nehro and the rest of the year for him,” Asmussen
said.

In other Belmont news:

Possible Belmont S. starter PRIME CUT (Bernstein) will breeze Tuesday or
Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. The chestnut was third in the Peter Pan S.
(G2) and second in the Lexington S. (G3) in his last two starts.

“He’ll work this week and then have one more work before his next start,”
trainer Neil Howard said. “He’s possible for the Belmont, but we’re still not
sure what we want to do with him.”

Another horse in the Howard barn that could show up in the Belmont is Lecomte
S. (G3) winner WILKINSON, a son of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid.

“I’m considering Wilkinson for the Belmont,” Howard said. “He seems like the
kind of horse that would like going a mile and a half.”

Wilkinson won an allowance race at Churchill Downs in his most recent start
on May 3.