Globetrotting Mubtaahij Works at Belmont

G2 UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) arrived at Belmont Park Friday along with stabelmate Umgiyo (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and trainer Mike de Kock’s assistant Trevor Brown. Mubtaahij, who was eighth in his North American debut in the GI Kentucky Derby, is being pointed towards a start in the GI Belmont S. He fired a five-panel bullet in 1:01.11 (1/22) over the Belmont Turf course Saturday. Umgiyo, who is a possible for the  GI Manhattan S. on the Belmont undercard, went the distance in 1:01.15 (2/22). 

“Doesn’t matter if they’re turf, poly, or all-weather [horses], we’ll gallop them on the turf,” said Brown. “We just get a little more out of them galloping on the turf as opposed to working on the dirt. On the dirt, they can come out a little stiff. As for the turf, it’s kinder on their legs.”