Sherack at the Belmont Stakes: Setting the Tone Early

   Peter Pan winner Tonalist (Tapit) smoothly glided by the clubhouse turn during his good-looking gallop and things were quickly underway at 6:10 a.m. on another sun-splashed morning at beautiful Belmont Park Tuesday. 
   Team Ride On Curlin (Curlin)–including trainer Billy Gowan and exercise rider Bryan Beccia–set up shop by the rail in anticipation of dual Classic winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit)’s imminent training session. Billy Turner, conditioner of the legendary 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, was all smiles while making the rounds as the GI Kentucky Derby one-two began their tour of the paddock. 
   Commanding Curve (Master Command) was the first of the pair to venture out from the saddling area and was going very easy upon the end of his routine gallop. The crowd continued to grow by the minute by the clubhouse turn gap as the excitement continued to build to see the big horse in action. 
   With trainer Art Sherman now in attendance after his late Monday afternoon arrival and son Alan on the shank, California Chrome stood near the track immediately after exiting the tunnel. Like always, he took his sweet time to take everything in around the massive 1 1/2-mile oval before it was finally time to get down to business. The younger Sherman made his way over to the rail and exchanged pleasantries with Gowan and company. California Chrome finally began jogging the wrong way, then was turned around for his 2 3/8-mile gallop. 
   With his gorgeous chestnut coat glistening in the warm New York sun, California Chrome continued to pick up the pace during his second lap and was told by exercise rider Willie Delgado to “slow down” (this is nothing new) while attempting to pull him up around the clubhouse turn. 
   As the large crowd of media and photographers ventured back to Barn 26 (what a difference a day makes), there were still some more GI Belmont S. contenders to catch a glimpse of at the main track. A walkie talkie of a nearby cameraman warned that Ride On Curlin was headed down the horsepath. 
   Accompanied by a pony, the Preakness runner-up briefly stood by the rail, then began his routine while heading the wrong way. The on-the-fence Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile), not sporting a Belmont S. saddle cloth (do we think that was a clue?), quickly followed and immediately headed off around the clubhouse turn. 
   With Gowan back and now looking on with his wife Tracy, Ride On Curlin hugged the rail nicely throughout the stretch while under a snug hold by Beccia. The consistent bay continues to serve notice that he has plenty left in the tank after competing in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. 
   Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid), a well-beaten eighth in the Preakness, was impossible to miss with his exercise rider sporting a florescent greenish yellow t-shirt when rolling by at 7:15 a.m. He apparently didn’t do enough to sway trainer Linda Ride to enter him in the big one, though. Kid Cruz will be now be aimed at either the Easy Goer S. on the Belmont undercard or the July 5 GIII Dwyer S. 
   The Shermans participated in a brief outdoor press conference on the grandstand apron as training hours began to wind down at 8:00 a.m., before the action shifted to Manhattan for the luncheon in Rockefeller Center.