By Steve Sherack
It felt much more like a Breeders' Cup program was on the horizon later this weekend rather than a potential Triple Crown sweep on an unseasonably brisk and rainy Tuesday June morning in Elmont, New York.
With heavy overnight storms leaving the main track a sloppy and sealed mess, Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) was the first local GI Belmont S. contender to head out for a spin just a tick before 6 a.m. The well-put together GI Preakness S. runner-up galloped once around Belmont's mighty 1 1/2-mile oval. A very bundled-up Dallas Stewart–sporting black New Orleans Saints gloves–was keeping a close eye on his charge as he exited the track through the paddock tunnel as a slight wind made it feel much colder than the 47-degree reading being displayed on the iPhone Weather Channel app.
It was awfully hard to miss the stunning blaze-faced defending Belmont S. champion Tonalist (Tapit), who galloped under a snug hold shortly thereafter. A perfect four-for-four at Belmont, the 'TDN Rising Star' heads to an absolutely loaded renewal of the GI Metropolitan H. after posting an eye-catching tally in the May 2 GIII Westchester S. Trainer Christophe Clement certainly appears to have him at the top of his game for this weekend.
Even without their Belmont S. saddle towels, the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of 'TDN Rising Star' Materiality (Afleet Alex) and Madefromlucky (Lookin At Lucky) immediately made their presence felt at approximately 6:15 a.m. Neither seemed to mind the slop one bit, especially Materiality, who, of course, romped in the off going on debut in Hallandale earlier this winter. The previously unbeaten GI Florida Derby hero was a well-documented troubled sixth in the GI Kentucky Derby while Madefromlucky broke through with a career high in the GII Peter Pan S. here most recently May 9, respectively.
The globe-trotting Mike de Kock was on hand to supervise Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who made his way out after the 8:30 a.m. renovation break. With the rain beginning to pick up, de Kock, as well as a slew of media, relocated to take cover by the nearby grandstand seats after initially watching by the wire. Along with stablemate Umgiyo (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the pair–both tacked with tan quarter sheets with South African flags–jogged the wrong way before turning in energetic gallops. Even with six timed workouts under his belt since a disappointing eighth in Louisville, Mubtaahij clearly wanted to do more, giving his exercise rider a good workout while attempting to apply the brakes near the finish line. De Kock later announced that Umgiyo, third in this term's G2 Dubai City of Gold, will bypass the GI Manhattan S. and instead shoot for an allowance spot on Saturday's undercard.
Dual Classic winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), meanwhile, began his trip from the Bluegrass just before noon.
NYRA Tweeted, “Wheels up on #AirHorseOne! About an hour and a half to Long Island for American Pharoah, Bayern, Smokey, Keen Ice, and the rest!”
The Zayats were immediately swarmed by the media upon their 2:30 p.m. arrival back at Barn 1. While the anticipation continued to build for the arrival of the Derby and Preakness winner, you guessed it, the rain returned. With camera crews from ABC7 Eyewitness News, CBS 2 News, Fox News, NBC New York, SportsNet New York and plenty more
all jockeying for position, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert stood alongside as assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes led American Pharoah off the van without a hitch at 3:41 p.m. Baffert as well as Ahmed and Justin Zayat held court under an umbrella cover outside of the barn moments later.
“He shipped really well,” Baffert confirmed. “I think he looked really well for what he's been through–all of the shipping…If the race was tomorrow, we're ready to go.”
American Pharoah is slated to jog at Belmont Park at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday.
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