Belmont Stakes 2023: Colic takes Kingsbarns out of mix

Kingsbarns is out of consideration for Belmont Stakes 2023 after missing a workout this week with what trainer Todd Pletcher described as “a bout of colic.”

Although he did not expect it was more than a mild case that would not require surgery, Pletcher said Saturday he did not want the Uncle Mo colt going into the June 10 race with so little preparation.

“He's feeling much better than he was yesterday, but it’s just bad timing.” Pletcher told a New York Racing Association spokesperson. “He’s not going to be able to breeze this week, and you can’t really go into the Belmont off one work. ... “He’s fine, no surgery needed. They just have to administer some fluids. It’s unfortunate timing, but it’s not something that we can (control).”

Kingsbarns was expected to breeze Friday morning. That was when Pletcher said, “He got a little bit of a bellyache today, so we weren’t able to breeze him.” The workout was pushed back to Saturday and then canceled.

Bought by Spendthrift Farm for $800,000 last year, Kingsbarns carried a 3-for-3 record into the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 14th at odds of 11-1. He carried 20-1 odds in the international futures market for the Belmont when he was removed from consideration.

Eclipse Award winner Forte, who was a veterinarian scratch from the Derby, may be Pletcher’s best chance to win the Belmont. The 11-4 futures favorite breezed five furlongs at Belmont Park on Saturday morning in 1:00.44.

Tapit Trice, the seventh-place Derby finisher who is also from the Pletcher barn, was clocked at 1:00.22 working five furlongs Friday. He is the 7-2 second choice in the Belmont futures.

Their stablemate and maiden winner Prove Worthy, who is a 33-1 long shot for the Belmont, last worked Tuesday at Churchill Downs, going a half-mile in 49.6 seconds. He was considered a possible starter for the 1 1/2-mile classic in two weeks.