Busy Belmont Worktab

A bevy of stakes performers from the Todd Pletcher and Chad Chad Brown barns made appearances on Belmont's worktab Saturday morning. Leading the charge was June 10 GI Belmont S. third-place finisher Patch (Union Rags), who breezed a half-mile in :49.72 on Belmont's training track while in company with undefeated Coal Front (Stay Thirsty).
“[Patch] went well,” Pletcher said. “I'm happy with him. I'd say he's a candidate for the [GII] Jim Dandy [S. July 29], [GI] Haskell [Invitational, July 30], [GII] West Virginia Derby [Aug. 5], Curlin [S. July 28]. He has lots of options. With Coal Front, we're kind of weighing our options between the [GIII] Dwyer [S. July 8] and the [GII] Amsterdam. The timing is good [for the Amsterdam, 6 ½ furlongs July 29]. He's coming off a very fast allowance race [Belmont June 8] and he's only got two races. We're trying to analyze it from all options.”
Also for Pletcher, 2015 GI Travers S. winner Keen Ice (Curlin) and multiple Grade III scorer Tommy Macho (Macho Uno) turned in their final major works ahead of their upcoming starts during the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival. Keen Ice worked five furlongs in 1:00.85 over the training track before a bid in the GII Suburban, his first start since finishing seventh in the Mar. 25 Dubai World Cup, while Tommy Macho, targetting the GI Belmont Sprint Championship, breezed a half-mile in :49.77.
Representing the Brown brigade, dual Grade I winner Pratical Joke (Into Mischief), fifth in his latest appearance in the May 6 GI Kentucky Derby, and undefeated graded winner Timeline (Hard Spun) worked four furlongs in tandem Saturday. The duo covered four furlongs in :48.84.
“Both of them worked perfect,” said Brown. “It was Practical Joke's final work before the Dwyer and Timeline's first work since winning the [June 18 GIII] Pegasus [S. at Monmouth] and it went really well.”
Also working for Brown, Juddmonte Farms' Paulassilverlining (Ghostzapper), winner of Keeneland's Apr. 8 GI Madison and GI Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs May 6 in consecutive starts, breezed four furlongs in :50.42 seconds in company with Your Love (Flatter), who is undefeated in two starts, including the latest against allowance company June 18 at Belmont.
“Paulassilverlining continues to train well,” said Brown. “Right now, I'm pointing her to the [GII] Honorable Miss [S. July 26] and Your Love worked good as well. She's done everything right so far. I'm looking to point her to the [GI] Test [S. Aug. 5].”
Heading Brown's turf troupe Saturday was GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro), on target for the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, and Grade III winner Ticonderoga (Tapit), pointing for the GI Belmont Derby, breezing four furlongs in :49.07 seconds in company on the main track. Both Grade I events for three-year-olds will be contested July 8.
Also working for Brown, multiple Grade I winner Lady Eli (Divine Park) and June 10 GI Longines Just a Game heroine Antonoe (First Defence) worked in tandem, completing four furlongs in :49.86 on Belmont's main track.
“They seem to be a good team,” added Brown. “Both of them were moving well.”