Belmont field down to eight after withdrawals of Carpe Diem, The Truth or Else

Belmont field down to eight after withdrawals of Carpe
Diem, The Truth or Else

Carpe Diem, shown prior to the Derby, doesn’t appear to be 100 percent, according to WinStar CEO Elliott Walden (Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com) American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) may have just seven rivals to beat to secure the elusive Triple Crown, following Monday’s news of two defections from Saturday’s Belmont S. (G1) — Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) and The Truth or Else (Yes It’s True). WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables’ Carpe Diem, a subpar 10th to American Pharoah in the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1), was withdrawn after connections weren’t satisfied with how he was coming up to the third jewel of the Triple Crown. “We have decided not to run Carpe Diem in the Belmont,” WinStar CEO Elliott Walden tweeted. “Too good a horse to run at 90%.” Hero of the Blue Grass S. (G1) as well as last fall’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, Carpe Diem was one of a trio of Belmont possibles for trainer Todd Pletcher. The Pletcher barn will now rely on Florida Derby (G1) winner Materiality (Afleet Alex), a commendable sixth after a slow start in the Derby, and recent Peter Pan (G2) scorer Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky).

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who had ridden Carpe Diem in the Derby, picks
up the mount on Materiality here. Javier Castellano, who had the Derby mount on
Materiality, now winds up on Madefromlucky.

The Truth or Else has been ruled out because of filling in an ankle, trainer
Ken McPeek reported on Twitter.

“We will give him the time he needs and bring him back when he’s 100%. We
believe he did this galloping Saturday.

“Minor but everything happens for a reason. Good luck to AP!”

As of Monday, here’s the possible eight-horse Belmont S. lineup
(with jockey and trainer): Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) winner American Pharoah, Victor
Espinoza and Bob Baffert; Blue Grass fourth and Kentucky Derby 11th Frammento (Midshipman), Mike
Smith and Nick Zito); Wood Memorial (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby fourth Frosted (Tapit), Joel Rosario
and Kiaran McLaughlin; Louisiana Derby fourth and Kentucky Derby seventh Keen Ice
(Curlin), Kent Desormeaux and Dale Romans; Madefromlucky, Castellano and Pletcher; Materiality,
Velazquez and Pletcher; U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) winner and Kentucky Derby
eighth Mubtaahij (Dubawi), Irad Ortiz Jr. and Mike de Kock; and Preakness runner-up Tale of
Verve (Tale of Ekati), Gary Stevens and Dallas Stewart.

Zito said Monday morning that he is finalizing plans for Mossarosa’s Grade
2-placed Frammento to join his string at Belmont Park in advance of Saturday’s
classic. Since the Derby, Frammento has been based at Saratoga.

“We’re trying to coordinate everything by the track with the weather,” Zito
said. “It’s either got to be later Tuesday or early Wednesday morning. We’ll
figure it out. Everything is good. We’re looking forward to getting down there.”

Frammento has had three timed works over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track
in May. He most recently drilled a bullet half-mile in :48.15 on Saturday,
turning in the fastest of 60 at the distance.

“I’ve just always like the (Oklahoma) track,” Zito noted. “I’ve said it for
years; it’s a good track and a good place to train. There’s a lot to like about
it.

“The main thing is he came out of the work good and he’s happy. Hopefully we
have a couple of good days down there and he’ll do well.”

Zito has started 24 horses in the Belmont, but none since Fly Down and Ice
Box were second and eighth, respectively, in 2010. He owns two wins — Birdstone
in 2004 and Da’ Tara in 2008, both ending Triple Crown bids — and seven
seconds.

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