Commanding Curve Tunes Up Ahead of Belmont
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
West Point Thoroughbreds’ Commanding Curve worked five furlongs early Friday morning at Churchill Downs in :59.80 for trainer Dallas Stewart in preparation for a rematch with Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 7.
Working in company with stablemate Perfect Title, Commanding Curve posted fractions of :12.40, :24.60, :36.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40.
Commanding Curve, runner-up in the Grade I Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands in his last outing, is scheduled to ship to New York on Wednesday, and will work once more at Belmont Park prior to the 1 ½-mile Belmont.
“I think he’ll be fine to handle the distance,” Stewart said. “He had a great work today, he’s fit and I think the distance will fit him just fine.
“There are going to be some nice horses in there. Of course California Chrome is a really nice horse and will obviously be the favorite. Ride On Curlin is another solid horse in there that will be tough.
“We’ll need a good trip. He needs to be close at the quarter pole. Approaching the quarter pole having only one or two horses beat probably won’t get it done. He needs to be a little closer and just have nice positioning turning for home.”
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