Master Fencer under training 'pressure' for Belmont Stakes

Katsumi Yoshizawa's homebred Master Fencer, a Japanese-bred son of Just a Way trained by Koichi Tsunoda, put in a strong training session on the Belmont Park main track on Monday morning.

Master Fencer made the 6,600 mile journey from Japan to Kentucky to compete in the Kentucky Derby, in which he rallied up the rail under Julien Leparoux to finish seventh, elevated to sixth following the disqualification of Maximum Security who crossed the wire first.

The colt will make his next start in the Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Belmont Park

He arrived in New York late Friday evening from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky where he had trained following his Derby effort. Master Fencer jogged on the dirt training track Monday ahead of a gallop on the Belmont main track.

"Today, he was still fresh. I felt that his stride has changed in a good way and it has become longer. I'm very satisfied," said training assistant Yosuke Kono via translator Mitsuoki Numamoto.

Kono said that the chestnut colt has gained good weight and conditioning during his extended stay stateside, which allows for Master Fencer to train more vigorously ahead of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

"Because of the shipping from Japan to Churchill Downs, it took a while [to regain strength]. He lost some weight," continued Kono via translator. "Because of that, we are trying to keep his condition, and because of the days after the Derby up until now there is plenty of time. He eats fair now and we can give him more pressure compared to before the Derby."

A start in the Belmont Stakes will make Master Fencer eligible for NYRA's $1 million bonus offered to any Japan-based winner of New York's most prestigious race.

Introduced for the 2017 Triple Crown season, the entire $1 million bonus would be awarded to the winning Japanese horse's connections in addition to the $800,000 winner's share of the purse for the last and longest leg of the Triple Crown. 

Master Fencer's presence in the Belmont Stakes will also open the race for pari-mutuel wagering in Japan. Through an agreement reached between NYRA and the Japan Racing Association, Japanese wagering on the Belmont Stakes will be conducted through a separate, non-commingled pool.

Leparoux retains the mount on Master Fencer for the "Test of the Champion" and he will be at Belmont on Wednesday morning to guide the colt through a five-furlong breeze on Big Sandy.