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2016 Belmont Stakes - Stewart Pair Ready To Step Up

Trainer Dallas Stewart is not overawed by his bid to win Saturday’s Belmont Stakes in New York with two recent maiden winners.

Stewart will start Seeking The Soul and Forever d’Oro, both owned by their breeder Charles Fipke, the final leg of the Triple Crown against Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator.

Seeking The Soul won his third start over a mile at Churchill Downs on May 29 on the same day Forever d’Oro broke his maiden at Belmont Park.

Forever d’Oro, a son of G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever, has done his training at Belmont under the care of Stewart’s assistant Bentley Combssince and galloped out over 10 furlongs on Sunday.

“Bentley said he was really good,” Stewart said from his Churchill base.

“It was what we wanted, just basic gallops right now. We want a healthy and fit horse.

“Hopefully, he'll be able to maintain his fitness.”

Seeking The Soul will ship to New York from Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

“I’m very happy with him,” Stewart said. “He’s a real tough individual.

“He loves to train and he’s looked great since his win.”

Stewart will also be starting Forever Unbridled in the G1 Ogden Phipps and Tom’s Ready in the G2 Woody Stephens at Belmont on Saturday.

Also out of Lemons Forever, Forever Unbridled has won her last three starts including the G1 Apple Blossom at her last run on April 15.

Tom’s Ready was most recently 12th in the G1 Kentucky Derby on May 7.

Trainer Christophe Clement will tackle the Belmont Stakes with Governor Malibu, runner-up in the G2 Peter Pan on May 14.

“He’s doing great,” said Clement, who won the 2014 Belmont with Tonalist.

“He had a nice work two days ago. The plan is to go to the Belmont with Joel Rosario aboard.”

Saturday’s meeting also features the G1 Manhattan Stakes and will include Divisidero, last start winner of the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Derby Day for trainer William ‘Buff’ Bradley.

“I think he’s one of the top turf horses in America right now. A win would put him right there at the top and with the way he’s training I don’t see any reason why he doesn’t have a big shot to win,” Bradley said.

The Manhattan field is expected to include last year’s champion turf horse Big Blue Kitten and multiple G1 winner Flintshire.

“It’s going to be tough race, everything has to go our way. There is no room for mistakes so we hope to get him up there in good order and get another big win under his belt,” Bradley said.


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