Trainer Todd Pletcher on Monday confirmed that Matterhorn is now possible for
the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 7. The colt, fourth in the Peter Pan on
May 10, recently was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners from Mrs. John
Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor.
Matterhorn, who finished 6 1/4 lengths behind Tonalist in the Peter Pan, on
Sunday breezed five furlongs in :48 1/5, the second quickest of 57 moves at the
distance that day.
“I spoke to (Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners president) Aron Wellman yesterday
after the breeze, and we’re keeping an eye on how he trains this week,” Pletcher
said. “A lot will depend on how he breezes on Sunday, but he’s under
consideration (for the Belmont Stakes).”
Also on the worktab yesterday for Pletcher were Commissioner, the Peter Pan
runner-up who is confirmed for the Belmont.
“(Commissioner) came back very well,” Pletcher said. “A quiet morning. We’ll
watch the forecast, but he’s scheduled to breeze again on Sunday.”
Matuszak, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, hit the track early Sunday
morning in preparation for the Belmont. The 3-year-old son of Bernardini has
only one win to his credit, but is coming off a second-place finish in the
Federico Tesio despite a troubled trip. The Mott trainee breezed five furlongs
in 1:01 1/5 galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 in company with Abraham.
“Matuszak was good,” said Mott. “He went with (Abraham) and finished on even
terms with him. It wasn’t quite as fast as last week but they went off a little
slow.”
Wicked Strong came out of his one-mile breeze on Sunday in fine fettle, Jimmy
Jerkens said Monday morning.
“He’s in good shape,” Jerkens said. “Nothing really to say.”
The move was Wicked Strong’s second at one mile in his career and sixth at
seven furlongs or longer. His previous one-mile breeze came in January at Palm
Meadows, and he breezed seven furlongs before both his victory in the Wood
Memorial in April at Aqueduct and his fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby
on May 3.
“He’s done it before, he’s used to it,” said Jerkens of Wicked Strong’s
longer workouts. “It’s nothing new to him. It’s not like we surprised him with
it. It’s pretty routine for him. He’s done it a lot, even as a two-year-old. Not
that fast, obviously.”
Belmont hopeful Tonalist came out of his breeze in good order, according to
trainer Christophe Clement. The son of Tapit went five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on
Saturday morning in preparation for the “Test of the Champion.”
“He came out of the work in excellent shape and looks very well to me,”
Clement said. “He jogged around the main track once (Sunday morning) and we took
him into the starting gate to go in and back out.”
Tonalist will have his final work before the Belmont on either the Saturday
or Sunday before the race, depending on the weather, according to Clement.
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