California Chrome was in good shape after logging his final breeze before the Belmont Stakes as attention turned to the work of major rivals ahead of Saturday’s final leg of the Triple Crown.
California Chrome went four furlongs in a sharp 47.69 on Saturday under regular rider Victor Espinoza, and galloped out 59.93 for five furlongs, 1:12.95 for six and 1:26.28 for seven around the Belmont oval.
"Chrome came out of the work in great shape," reported Alan Sherman, son of trainer Art Sherman.
"Everything is cold and tight and we're ready for Saturday."
California Chrome takes a six win streak into the Belmont including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He is now in line to be the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 with eight wins in 12 races overall for earnings of $3,452,650.
Tonalist, who will be a favoured runner in the Belmont, also was reported in fine shape after also putting in his final serious work on Saturday at Belmont Park.
The colt was clocked in 1:00.11 for five furlongs, working in company with stablemate Life In Shambles.
"He came out of his work in good order," said Tonalist's trainer Christophe Clement.
"He looked great this morning. He jogged a mile-and-a-half and went to the gate, standing in it and going back out, just regular schooling that we always do the day after the work.
Tonalist enters the Belmont Stakes off a four-length score in the Peter Pan “Stakes on May 10 for his second win in only four starts.
Ride On Curlin, runner-up to California Chrome in the Preakness Stakes, stretched his legs on Sunday with a seven-furlong breeze under exercise rider Bryan Beccia at Belmont Park.
The Billy Gowan trainee was one of six Belmont contenders to put in their final drills on Sunday.
The others were Kentucky Derby second Commanding Curve, Wicked Strong, Matuszak, Commissioner, and Matterhorn.
Ride On Curlin quickened from the head of the stretch to the wire. New York Racing Association clockers listed him in 1:28.03, the only seven-furlong move on Sunday.
"I thought he went super," Gowan said. “It was just what we wanted, mainly just to get some air into him.”
“He's real fit. He's come out of every race just super and wanting more, so we might as well give it to him."
"Chrome is going to be hard to catch. He doesn't have a lot of quit in him.
"But I know my horse likes Belmont. Hopefully we can be in a stalking position, that would be the ideal situation, keep our eye on Chrome and then get the jump on him.
"I guarantee my horse will run the turns. He's just that kind of horse.
“I know there's a lot of good horses in the race but I'd love to be right off Chrome at the top of the stretch and hook up and see what happens."
Ride On Curlin’s seventh in the Kentucky Derby was his only off the board finish in 11 starts. In the Preakness, he rebounded with a closing second, 1 1/2 lengths back.
Commanding Curve and Wicked Strong both turned in different moves on Sunday.
Commanding Curve went a half in 47.38 for trainer Dallas Stewart, the third quickest of 25 at the distance.
Commanding Curve, kept under a hold as he finished approximately one length in front of his workmate, was 1 3/4 lengths back of California Chrome in the Kentucky Derby with a good late finish.
"I thought he worked great," said Stewart. "I've never seen him work any better. It was just a great day for him.”
Wicked Strong, trained by Jimmy Jerkens, ticked through a powerful five furlong breeze in 59.10 on the training track for the best of 12 works over the distance.
Wicked Strong won the G1 Wood Memorial at Belmont before an even fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
He had blowout workouts before the Wood and the Derby but will not have a blowout before the Belmont according to Jerkens.
"He gallops pretty steadily,” Jerkens said. “I blew him out at Churchill because he wasn't really getting into the bridle when he galloped. He was really distracted, which is why we gave him a little something."
