Lone Star Derby winner Game On Dude possible for Belmont
Story by: NYRA Press Office
Source: NYRA.com
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert may have a starter for the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 5 in Game On Dude, a 4 ½-length winner of Saturday’s Grade 3 Lone Star Derby.
“He could be a Belmont horse,” Baffert said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. “We will look seriously at it with him.”
A gelded son of Awesome Again, Game On Dude broke his maiden at second asking in February, then finished seventh in the Grade 1 Florida Derby in his first start for the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Bernard C. Schiappa. He next finished fifth in the Grade 3 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs.
“We bought him three days before the Florida Derby and he was just green in there,” said Baffert. “We ran him in the Derby Trial and he hated the mud.”
Fly Down exits Dwyer in good shape
Fly Down came out of his six-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Dwyer at Belmont Park in great shape, reported Ricardo Troncozo, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito.
“He ate up everything, and he’s doing great,” said Troncozo.
Owned by Richard C. Pell, Fly Down looks set to join stablemate Ice Box, the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, in the field for the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 5. Should he prepare for the 1 ½ mile Belmont to Zito’s liking over the next 30 days, he will likely need a new jockey as Jose Lezcano, aboard for the Dwyer, is committed to Ice Box.
Uptowncharlybrown in excellent form after first work for McLaughlin
Uptowncharlybrown emerged from his first work for Kiaran McLaughlin in excellent order, reported his new trainer, and will work the next three Saturdays as well in preparation for the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 5.
With exercise Renzo Morales aboard, the Limehouse colt covered a half-mile in 48.90 Saturday morning over Belmont’s main track, the 11th fastest of 51 works at the distance.
“He went very well and he’s great this morning,” said McLaughlin, who welcomed the Fantasy Lane colt into his barn Wednesday.
Uptowncharlybrown, third in the Grade 2 Lexington in his most recent start, will be ridden in the 1 ½ mile Belmont by Rajiv Maragh.