Workouts: Creative Minister breezes Monday for Belmont

Fern Circle Stables, Back Racing and Magdalena Racing’s Creative Minister had his final work on Monday in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. The son of Creative Cause breezed an easy half-mile in 50.33 seconds over the fast main track at Belmont Park.

“It was something simple,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “We let him stretch his legs; he had a long gallop and he did everything right. He looked happy doing it.”

Creative Minister was guided through the exercise by Heman Harkie, who was also aboard for his half-mile breeze last week. The grey colt stood near the finish line for a few minutes before the breeze, surveying Big Sandy with his head up and ears forward as Harkie gave his neck a few strokes.

The pair then took off the wrong way around towards the top of the stretch so that Creative Minister could get a sense of Belmont’s looming grandstand and long home stretch. Creative Minister was taken to the backstretch to begin his work and NYRA clockers caught his first quarter-mile in 24.8 seconds. He travelled well to finish the work in 50.33 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04 flat.

“He’s a very smart horse,” McPeek said. “He hasn’t missed a beat and has been eating well. He just needed a maintenance half-mile. All systems go.”

Creative Minister established himself in the 3-year-old division with a rallying third-place effort in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 21, finishing 3 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Early Voting. He was awarded a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, which was his stakes debut.

McPeek is in search of his second Belmont Stakes triumph and first since Sarava stunned the 2002 running at odds of 70-1, the longest shot in history to win the Test of the Champion.

In addition to this Belmont contender, 13 graded stakes winners also appeared on the work tab Monday morning.

Channel Maker (English Channel), a four-time Grade 1 winner worked four furlongs in 48.6 at Saratoga on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 18 works at the distance. His previous work was 7 days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he won the Elkhorn (G2) going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Keeneland on April 23 for trainer Bill Mott.

Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), a Grade 1 winner (2020 Derby City Distaff), worked five furlongs in 59.4 at Churchill Downs on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 13 works at the distance. Her previous work was 9 days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In her last start she placed fourth in the Derby City Distaff (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 7 for trainer Neil Pessin.

Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), a Grade 1 winner (2021 Woody Stephens), worked five furlongs in 58.4 at Gulfstream Park on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was 8 days ago going three furlongs at Gulfstream Park. In his last start he placed seventh in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) going about six furlongs on the dirt at Meydan Racecourse on March 26 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Ivar (BRZ) (Agnes Gold (JPN)), a Grade 1 winner (2020 Turf Mile), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at The Thoroughbred Center on Monday morning. It was the second fastest of 4 works at the distance. His previous work was 6 days ago going four furlongs at The Thoroughbred Center. In his last start he placed third in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) going one mile on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6 for trainer Paulo H. Lobo.

Max Player (Honor Code), a Grade 1 winner (2021 Jockey Club Gold Cup), worked four furlongs in 50.7 at Belmont Park on Monday morning. It was the 28th fastest of 34 works at the distance. His previous work was 7 days ago going five furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed seventh in the Alysheba (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 6 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Storm the Court (Court Vision), a Grade 1 winner (2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile), worked three furlongs in 34.8 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the second fastest of 26 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fifth in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 7 for trainer Peter Eurton.

War Like Goddess (English Channel), a Grade 1 winner (2021 Flower Bowl), worked three furlongs in 36.8 at Saratoga on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 28 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Bewitch (G3) going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Keeneland on April 29 for trainer Bill Mott.

White Abarrio (Race Day), a Grade 1 winner (2022 Florida Derby), worked four furlongs in 47.1 at Gulfstream Park on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 50 works at the distance. His previous work was 8 days ago going three furlongs at Gulfstream Park. In his last start he placed 16th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 7 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Olympiad (Speightstown), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2022 Alysheba), worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Saratoga on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 2 works at the distance. His previous work was 7 days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he won the Alysheba (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 6 for trainer Bill Mott.

Chewing Gum (Candy Ride (ARG)), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Joe Hernandez), worked three furlongs in 36.8 at Saratoga on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 28 works at the distance. His previous work was 126 days ago going three furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he won the Joe Hernandez (G2) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 1 for trainer Bill Mott.

Red King (English Channel), a Grade 2 winner (2020 Del Mar H.), worked three furlongs in 36.6 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 4 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in an allowance race going 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on May 22 for trainer Philip D'Amato.

Avie's Flatter (Flatter), a Grade 3 winner (2019 Transylvania), worked six furlongs in 1:13.6 at Woodbine on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 1 works at the distance. His previous work was 14 days ago going five furlongs at Woodbine. In his last start he won the Nearctic (G2) going six furlongs on the turf at Woodbine on Oct. 17 for trainer Josie Carroll.

Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Gazelle), worked four furlongs in 49.1 at Saratoga on Monday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 18 works at the distance. Her previous work was 7 days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start she placed 10th in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 6 for trainer Bill Mott.