GI Preakness S. winner on Saturday Vote early (Gunman) returned to his stall at Belmont Park mid-morning on Sunday, about 15 hours after scoring a 1/4 win over the favorites. Epicenter (Not this time) during the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday.
Coach Chad Brown traveled from Baltimore to New York overnight and was in Belmont on Sunday overseeing what usually happens on a busy morning of punctual training for his stallions. ta. Within a short period of time, Brown said that Early Voting, owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, came out of the race in good condition, but would not be shown entering GI Belmont S. June 11. England he added that he hasn’t decided when and where soon. Voting will follow, while still enjoying his intern’s big day at Pimlico.
“We’re delighted with the win,” Brown said. “I am proud of the horse. Proud of his team. It was a super memorable day, especially on Seth Klarman’s birthday in his hometown. Everything is lined up. I really appreciate that day, the performance. “
Brown and Klarman won the Preakness for the second time in five years using the same formula: skipping the GI Kentucky Derby with a promising pony, stake-tested but lightly raced to focus on Preakness. In 2017, Cloud Computing (Music by Maclean) gave Brown his first win in the Triple Crown series race. Like Cloud Computing, Early Voting was closed after finishing second in the GII Wood S.at Aqueduct Memorial on April 9.
“He only ran four times and he completed everything that we asked him to do,” Brown said. “He broke in well from the gate. He makes his own trips. He carried his speed along a route on the ground. He is a warrior in the war. He deserves all the credit here. He is extremely cooperative to work with. He’s super smart. You train him to do something, and he does it. I couldn’t be more proud of this horse. He deserves a lot of praise.”
Ron Winchell, owner of Epicenter, who finished second in both the Derby and Preakness, reported that the foal was unlikely to compete with the Belmont.
“I would say it’s been a long time at the moment,” he said. “He had six weeks between the Louisiana Derby and the Derby, and that worked out well for him. I think there might have been five weeks between the Resurrection Star and the Louisiana Derby, and that worked out well for him. Just looking at the way he came back fresh, that seems to be the recipe at the moment. But at least one Gunman win.”
Winchell speculates that Monmouth’s GI TVG.com Haskell or Saratoga’s GI Travers S. could be next, with GI Breeders’ Cup Classic in Keeneland in early November being a reasonable target.
“We’ll turn the page and see where we want to get from there,” he said. “But that’s probably the long-term goal.”
Scott Blasi, Asmussen’s assistant head coach, said Sunday morning that Epicenter came out of Preakness in good condition. He said Epicenter and his steady friends at Pimlico will be heading back to Churchill Downs on Monday morning.
Creative Minister (Creative cause), the third runner in the Preakness after being added to the race for $150,000, will be pointed to Belmont, coach Kenny McPeek reported Sunday. McPeek said the foal will likely wind up a few half-miles ahead of the Triple Crown’s third jewel, noting that the gray’s crossbreeding could make it a contender in the race.
“He came out of a Tapit mare and TapitI love Belmont,” McPeek said. “That’s the plan.”
The Innovation Secretary will stay in Pimlico for a day or two, McPeek said Sunday, before shipping the goods to New York.
Hall of Fame coach D. Wayne Lukas is on his way home Sunday to Kentucky with Briland Farms’ Secret Vow (Arrogate), who finished fourth in Preakness. Lukas said the plan is for the girl to get eight weeks off and then aim for a series of races against her gender, including the July 23 GI Coaching Club American Oaks and the August 20 GI Alabama S. , both at Saratoga, as well as GI Cotillion S. September 24 at Parx Racing. Her ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland in November.
Daniel Alonso’s skippylongstocking is being considered for Belmont, coach Saffie Joseph, Jr. said on Sunday morning. Son of the 2016 Preakness winner, who finished fifth in Preakness, having previously finished third in Wood Memorial.
“He runs well enough and might be worth recording,” says Joseph. “We will not decide for a week. We’ll see how he plays and see his energy and then decide. I think he’ll go a mile and a half.”
Coach Antonio Sano reported that Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric’s Simplify (Not Thsi Time) will be moved to Ocala to rest and relax after it is determined that the winner of the GII Fountain of Youth S. The Forgery.
Other possible starting points for the Belmont, as the New York Racing Association notes, include Haircut line (Race day), Golden roller coaster (Ghostzapper), Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and We who (Structure), while also being listed as possible The path of purity (Quality Sugar), Nest (Curlin) and West River (Tapit).
