NY-Breds Samraat, Uncle Sigh Work in Belmont Breezes

My Meadowview Stable’s Samraat (Noble Causeway) and Uncle Sigh (Indian Charlie) turned in their penultimate breezes for the GI Kentucky Derby Friday morning at Belmont Park. 

Samraat, who defeated Uncle Sigh in epic battles in the GIII Withers S. and GIII Gotham S. before finishing runner-up to Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) in the GI Wood Memorial S. Apr. 5, worked a half-mile in :49.12 (video) over the main track beneath exercise rider Simon Payne and under the watchful eye of trainer Rick Violette Jr. and jockey Jose Ortiz. 

“It was perfect–if we did it again, I don’t know that we’d want to change anything,” said Violette of Samraat. “It was in hand, he stretched his legs, changed leads and pulled up good; he’s acting like he just went out for a little jog. A week away, we’ll go our steady mile–next Friday or Saturday–and go from there. It’s pretty cool.” 

Uncle Sigh recorded his work over the training track at Belmont and went five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.31 (video) with former jockey Nick Santagata. The colt, owned by Wounded Warrior Stable, was fitted with blinkers for the first time and looked a touch keen while going in early fractions of :12.63, :24.73 and :36.81. Santagata had Uncle Sigh directly behind his company and looked to tap on the brakes at the quarter pole before sending Uncle Sigh through at the rail underneath his workmate. He covered his final quarter mile in a strong :23.50 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.02. He was still full of run as he was out seven panels in 1:26.72. 

“It was perfect,” said Santagata of the work by Uncle Sigh, who moved up on the Derby leaderboard to grab the 20th and final slot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs when GI Florida Derby winner Constitution (Tapit) suffered a shin injury. “I sat behind, he ate dirt. The last couple of races he hasn’t eaten dirt; he was outside, he’s been in the front. So it was a different situation [today], and he responded well. We put him [behind a horse] and we came through the rail in case you got to come through a little hole in the Derby. Hopefully, we’ll get lucky on Derby Day. Hopefully, we’ll get a better break than we did in the Wood Memorial and we can place him better. I think the blinkers will do that. I think the blinkers will make him a little better out of the gate and be in a little bit better position.”