Trainer: Belmont Derby front-runner should pick up pace

Hard Love finished seventh after setting a moderate pace in Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational.

With Manny Franco up, Hard Love reached three-quarters in 1:17.26 before being swarmed by a number of rivals, finishing 4 1/2 lengths back of the victorious Bolshoi Ballet.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas said that going forward, he would prefer the Kitten’s Joy ridgling to be more aggressive on the front end.

“I think it was a combination of the turf being a little bit soft – and it certainly wasn't Manny's fault – but I would rather have gone three-quarters in 1:13 and not 1:17,” said Thomas. “One thing we know about him is that he doesn't have a sub-23 turn of foot. It turned into a quarter-horse race from the quarter-pole to the wire. It becomes a question of if he's good enough. I just wish we had got some separation. Against top horses like that, you don't want to make it easy on them.

“I'd rather have been five in front turning for home and come get me,” Thomas added. “If he had that turn of foot, it's a great ride. Now we know he just needs to kick on.”

Owned by Robert LaPenta, Augustin Stable and Madaket Stables, Hard Love came out of the race in good order. Thomas said he will consider entering the Saratoga Derby (G1), the second leg of the Turf Triple series, slated for Aug. 7.