by Frank Angst

Despite a rather sleepless night, jockey Mike Smith arrived at Belmont Park to work his Belmont Stakes (G1) starter, Tiago, six furlongs in 1:14.89 on the main track on Sunday.

Smith, who guided Tiago to victory in this year’s Santa Anita Derby (G1), caught the red-eye after riding at Hollywood Park on Saturday afternoon. He arrived at Belmont about one hour before working Tiago at about 6:30 a.m. EDT at Belmont.

“He seemed to like it,” Smith said. “He likes the big, sweeping turns here.”

Smith joined the consensus of riders and trainers who thought the track was playing slow.

“It’s very dry right now and not fast at all,” Smith said.

While Tiago arrived at Belmont on Wednesday, Smith and trainer John Shirreffs both flew into John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday morning. Tiago, who will make his first start since finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), galloped out another furlong after the workout.

“That was what we were looking for. He handled everything well,” Shirreffs said.

Smith will spend the week in New York.

“I’m closing on a house in Westbury [New York], so this will give me a chance to finish up with that,” Smith said.

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times