Trainer Chad Brown confirmed GI Preakness S. winner Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) will bypass the June 10 GI Belmont S., but indicated that Cobra Farm's Twisted Tom (Creative Cause) will represent the barn in the 1 1/2-mile Classic. Under Peter Roman, the Federico Tesio S. winner worked five furlongs Sunday in company with last year's Easy Goer S. victor Economic Model (Flatter). The duo covered the distance in 1:01.16, negotiating the last quarter in :23 3/5 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 4/5.
“[Twisted Tom] worked great,” confirmed Brown. “This horse has continued to improve all year, and more of the same [Sunday]. It was a nice, strong work from him. [The Belmont is a] huge class test for this horse, but I love the way he's developed. I do think he can stay a mile and a half, I think the longer the better for him, so I'm anxious to get him out to that distance, but it'll be a tough, large field.”
A winner on the grass while facing statebreds second time out for trainer George Weaver at Belmont last September, the gelding failed to hit the board in his latest attempt on the sod in a $75,000 optional claimer at the Big A Nov. 26. Back in the winner's circle while trying the dirt for the first time against fellow New York breds in a $75,000 optional claiming at Aqueduct Jan. 28, the chestnut added a score in Laurel's Private Terms S. ahead of his soggy Tesio win Apr. 22.
“He appreciated the time after the win in the Tesio and has had a nice string of works since then, so the horse seems to be sitting on a new top again,” added Brown.
To compete in the third jewel in the Triple Crown, Twisted Tom will have to be supplemented at a fee of $75,000.
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