Pletcher’s Belmont Stakes trio work at Big Sandy

Madefromlucky (outside) and Carpe Diem worked in company for the Belmont Stakes… (NYRA/Susie Raisher/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a veritable “Who’s Who” of
contenders for their penultimate workouts this morning at Belmont Park for the
upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on June 4-6.

Grade 1 hero Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) returned to the worktab for the first time since
his 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Under Hall of Famer John Velazquez,
the chestnut colt worked early on the fast main track in company
with Peter Pan S. (G2) victor Madefromlucky. With both colts pointed to the
$1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 6, the pair picked up the bullet of the day,
finishing together to cover five furlongs in :59.

“The (main) track was probably playing a little bit on the
quick side, but I thought it was a pretty good work for both of them,” Pletcher
remarked. “It was a fast work but in hand with a strong gallop out.

“(Carpe Diem has) been galloping well,” he added. “He’s kind of an
enthusiastic horse on a daily basis, so we decided on two breezes between the
Derby and the Belmont and I thought we got a good, solid work this morning.

…while Stanford and fellow Belmont hopeful Materiality (outside) traveled in tandem around Big Sandy (NYRA/Susie Raisher/Adam Coglianese Photography)

“Before we went out, I told them we were looking for something between a
minute and 1:01 with a strong gallop-out, so the fractions seemed like they were
going to land them in that time frame. I just relayed the times to them and they
picked it up on their own through the lane.”

With Velazquez aboard the Belmont Stakes-bound Materiality, Pletcher reported that the riding assignments for his trio had
yet to be decided.

Meanwhile, undefeated Competitive Edge (Super Saver), possible for the $1.25
million Metropolitan H. (G1) as well as the $500,000 Woody Stephens S. (G2), breezed over
Belmont’s fast dirt training track Friday morning. Working in company with impressive allowance
winner Curalina (Curlin), the duo covered a half-mile in :48 2/5.

Also breezing a half-mile on the Belmont training track for
the Pletcher barn were recent Humana Distaff S. (G1) heroine Dame Dorothy (Bernardini),
who went in :48 4/5 ahead of the $1 million Ogden Phipps S. (G1); Harlan’s Holiday
S. winner Liam’s Map (Unbridled’s Song), who was clocked in :48 3/5; and dual
Grade 2 scorer Blofeld (Quality Road), who was caught in :48 3/5 while readying
for the Woody Stephens.