Donegal Racing’s Dullahan, most recently third in the Kentucky Derby,
continued his preparations for the June 9 Belmont Stakes with a five-furlong
breeze in 1:00 1/5 on the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday
morning.
The Dale Romans trainee posted the second fastest of 26 moves at the
distance, with the multiple Grade 2-winning filly On Fire Baby recording the
bullet in :59 3/5.
Working on his own after the renovation break under Faustino Aguilar,
Dullahan recorded fractions of :12, :23 4/5, :35 4/5 and :47 4/5 and galloped
out six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 and seven furlongs in 1:29 4/5.
Assistant trainer Baldemar Bahena oversaw the workout for Romans, who is in
Baltimore to saddle Cozzetti for the 137th Preakness.
“He came out of the Derby very well and today’s work was good,” Bahena said.
“He will work again here next Saturday and then we will ship him to Belmont.
He’ll have his final workout for the race up there.”
A chestnut son of Even the Score, Dullahan has scored his two career wins in
Grade 1 races on Keeneland’s Polytrack, the Breeders’ Futurity and the Blue
Grass. He is the only horse besides Hall of Famer Round Table to turn that
double.
Dullahan is a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who
ran second to eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness and
third in the Belmont behind Summer Bird and Dunkirk.