Tonalist headlines Clement’s Belmont Stakes Day runners

Tonalist will attempt to move his Belmont record to a perfect five-for-five in the Met Mile (NYRA/Joe Labozzetta/Adam Coglianese Photography)

With three runners on tap for next Saturday’s Belmont
Stakes Day, trainer Christophe Clement spoke Sunday morning on his June 6
contingent, which is led by last year’s Belmont S. (G1) winner Tonalist (Tapit).

Heading into the $1.25 million Metropolitan
H. (G1), in which he will tote co-highweight of 123 pounds, Tonalist is
undefeated in four starts at Belmont at distances varying from one mile to 1 1/2
miles, but will make his first start in a handicap race in the Met Mile. Tonalist will share the highweight designation with multiple Grade 1
hero Private Zone (Macho Uno) and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victor Bayern
(Offlee Wild).

“I put more emphasis on weight than most people around me,
but that’s me,” Clement admitted. “In the meantime, I’m aware it is a
handicap, so that’s the way it is. (Tonalist) doing well and we’ve had no problems.”

The five-year-old Discreet Marq (Discreet Cat), who completed five furlongs in 1:03
3/5 on the fast Belmont main track Saturday morning in preparation
for the $700,000 Just a Game S. (G1), will attempt to win her second
consecutive race should the weather cooperate. The gray mare captured the
Beaugay S. (G3) over the firm going at Big Sandy to open her 2015 season on May
9, and her connections are hoping for the same conditions Saturday.

“(Discreet Marq) won’t like it too soft, so we’ll have
to keep an eye on the weather, but it’s exciting. She worked yesterday on the
dirt, just a normal maintenance work,” Clement said.

Summation Time (In Summation), who has
won back-to-back races after breaking his maiden at Belmont Park by 6 3/4
lengths in 2014, will be
facing stakes competition for the first time in the $300,000 Jaipur Invitational
(G3).