Down to the Wire

By Christie DeBernardis 
    With the sun shining and temperatures in the high 60’s, Belmont Park was buzzing with activity yesterday as the countdown to race day dwindled down to about 36 hours. News trucks from half a dozen different stages were stacked up behind the fence, while horsemen and members of the media lined the rail to catch a glimpse and photoS of this weekend’s big contenders. 
    First out on the track just minutes after six (as he has been all week) was GII Peter Pan S. hero Tonalist (Tapit). The uniquely blazed bay never broke a sweat or batted an eye as he glided across the deep sandy surface just as easily as he has been all week. 
    Dallas Stewart was on the shank as Commanding Curve (Master Command) emerged from the tunnel just about ten minutes later. The handsome and well-built bay has been a bit overlooked since he tends to go out around the same time as California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) each morning. But, if his good looking gallops are any indication of what is to come, we may see a repeat of his Derby performance. 
    Just after Commanding Curve galloped past the finish line, photographers swarmed along the path beside the tunnel to catch the first glimpse of Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome. The flashy chestnut sparkled as he stepped into the sunlight and stopped in the center of the path to pose for the cameras as is his daily routine. After making sure the media had captured all angles, he amicably followed assistant trainer Alan Sherman onto the track and began his clockwise jog. Many photographers rushed back to the barns after California Chrome made his first easy pass in the correct direction, but as usual he came by a second time at a bit of a faster clip and looked every bit at home over Big Sandy. 
    Two-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) quietly entered the track beside her pony just after 7a.m. The classy bay posed at the rail while taking in the action before heading the wrong way down the track for her morning jog. She returned just a few minutes later at an easy canter and left as quietly as she came. 
    Matuszak (Bernardini) was lead onto the track ten minutes later with an entourage of horses, which included Hall of Famer Bill Mott aboard his shining palomino pony. Flying under the radar without his Belmont saddle towel, the compact dark bay has put in some visually impressive gallops in the morning and today was no different. Mott watched his charge from the rail while chatting with Billy Gowan, trainer of Ride On Curlin (Curlin). 
    The GI Preakness S. runner-up entered the track accompanied by his pony just moments later and spent a few minutes taking in the action while receiving plenty of love from rider Bryan Beccia. Putting Beccia’s strength to the test, Ride On Curlin was as eager as always during his morning gallop and Gowan exited the track with a smile on his face. 
    A few minutes after the break, GIII Gotham S. victor Samraat (Noble Causeway) jogged by the grandstand beside his pony. Arriving from Aqueduct Wednesday afternoon and jogging three miles Thursday, the native New Yorker put in is first gallop over the Belmont track yesterday morning and looked extremely comfortable with the surface. 
    Last, but not least, was Spendthrift Farm’s Medal Count (Dynaformer) who just arrived from Kentucky yesterday. The   dark bay was one of the buzz horses in the morning at Churchill and, while a bit uppity his first time past the grandstand, he seemed happy and relaxed when galloping past the finish line. 
    With a loaded Belmont field, a Triple Crown on the line and five other prestigious Grade I races on the card, tomorrow promises to be a day to remember no matter who crosses the finish line first at 6:54p.m.