Overseas shippers Zhukova, The Grey Gatsby adjust well

After considering running Zhukova against males in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, trainer Dermot Weld said he will run the 5-year-old stakes winner in the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on October 8 at Belmont Park.

Zhukova, a 5-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Fastnet Rock, already proved she could beat high-caliber males, winning the Grade 1 Man o' War by six lengths on May 13 at Belmont. But Weld said the extra time between races - the Joe Hirsch will be run Saturday - as well as the expected firm turf this weekend, encouraged him to run Zhukova in the Flower Bowl, a "Win and You're In" race for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 4 at Del Mar.

"We were pleased with her in every way, she ran a good race in the Irish Champion Stakes," Weld said by phone from Ireland. "This will give us a chance to acclimatize. The travel takes a bit out of her. She'll appreciate the extra couple of days just to settle in."

Zhukova finished eighth in the Irish Champion Stakes but has six wins in her last nine starts dating to her 3-year-old campaign in 2015. She arrived at Belmont on Tuesday with stablemate The Grey Gatsby, who drew post 10 in the Joe Hirsch.

Both Zhukova and The Grey Gatsby cleared quarantine Thursday morning without incident and jogged a mile over the Belmont training track shortly after 10 a.m.

"[It was] perfect, it couldn't have been better. Everything worked out great this time," said groom Caroline Cashman. "He was very happy out there this morning. He's used to different surroundings. He was very perky, and she's been here before so she kind of knew the drill. [She] just followed the pony."

Cashman said both horses are scheduled to gallop a mile over the main track Friday morning.

The 40th running of the Flower Bowl will also mark Weld's first starter in the race in 14 years. In his only previous entrant, Weld won the race's 2003 edition with Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey piloting Dimitrova to victory.

"It's always a prestigious race and I was fortunate to have won it the only other time I had a runner in it, so it's good memories," Weld said.