New Shooter for Belmont

The Truth Or Else (Yes It’s True), a recent winner of an $80,000 optional claimer at Belmont (video), has joined the mix for the GI Belmont S. June 6. Trainer Ken McPeek, of course, upset War Emblem’s bid for a Triple Crown with Sarava in 2002. He also campaigned Atigun (Istan) to a third-place finish in the 2012 renewal. 

“My horse loves the Belmont track,” McPeek said. “He has two starts and two wins on a dry track at Belmont. And he’s out of a Colonial Affair mare [Lakenheath] so he should get the distance. His last race was a confidence builder. He got a good time and an excellent speed figure. His last two races have set him up for this. He really needed to win his last race, which he did.” 

Owned by Harold Lerner and McPeek, the $40,000 KEENOV weanling and $110,000 FTKJUL yearling was a close second after making a dramatic middle move in Oaklawn’s GIII Southwest S. in February. Seventh in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 11, he finished fifth in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. May 2. 

“He’s just a really solid horse,” McPeek added. “The Truth or Else is bigger and stronger than both Sarava and Atigun. Weird things happen in the Belmont. You shouldn’t duck one horse in a race. American Pharoah could possibly not handle the surface. You don’t know. So long as it’s a dry track, we’ll pull the trigger.” 

The field for the Belmont S., headed by dual Classic winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), is hovering at 10. Trainer Mark Casse announced Thursday that Conquest Curlinate (Curlin), who is stabled at Churchill Downs, would bypass the Belmont and be aimed at the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine. 

Friday breezes are expected for the Todd Pletcher trio of Madefromlucky (Lookin At Lucky), Materiality (Afleet Alex) and Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway); the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Frosted (Tapit), and GI Preakness S. runner-upTale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) for trainer Dallas Stewart.