NEWS
Denis of Cork turns in impressive breeze for Belmont, Big Brown improving
Posted: Monday, May 26, 2008 4:25 PM
DENIS OF CORK
Grade 3 winner Denis of Cork, who finished third to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), breezed five furlongs in :59.80 on Monday at Churchill Downs in preparation for a planned start in the $1-million Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7.
Denis of Cork galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 under jockey Robby Albarado, who will ride the Harlan’s Holiday colt in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont. The breeze was the third fastest of 21 timed moves at the distance.
“He’s training beautifully,” trainer David Carroll said. “For two weeks after the Derby it just took him a little bit of time to get back on his feet and get his energy back, but the last week he’s training beautifully. He had a good work last week, but this week we wanted a bit more from him.”
The breeze was the first time Albarado has been aboard Denis of Cork since the colt won the Southwest Stakes (G3) on February 18 at Oaklawn Park. Calvin Borel rode Denis of Cork in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs, a race Big Brown won by 4 3/4 lengths.
“[Denis of Cork] went really well. I thought it was a great work for him,” Albarado said. “It was a nice, long maintenance work. He worked fast, too, and was within himself. I’m excited about him, and it sets him up great for the Belmont.”
Albarado is impressed by Denis of Cork’s development since the Southwest victory.
“He’s matured a lot and gotten stronger,” Albarado said. “He must have a big set of lungs on him because he gallops out really well and he refuses to pull up. I mean he just wants to keep going and going. So I think the mile-and-a-half is going to be conducive to his style.”
William and Suzanne Warren’s Denis of Cork is scheduled to have his final pre-Belmont breeze on June 2, and he will be flown to New York the following day.
Albarado is anxious to face Big Brown in the Belmont. A 5 1/4-length winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, Big Brown is currently being slowed by a quarter crack on the inside of his left front foot. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. is confident that the injury will not prevent the Boundary colt from attempting to become the 12th Triple Crown winner in the Belmont.
“It’s a tall order against Big Brown,” Albarado said. “We’ve seen how impressive he was in the first two legs of the Triple Crown and the Preakness, but they become vulnerable in the Belmont for some reason.
“It’s a totally new dimension at a mile and a half and a new set of fresh horses is going at him. I’m not going to count Denis of Cork out. We’ve got a big chance, and I’m going to ride him with a chance.”
Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) winner Tale of Ekati breezed six furlongs in 1:18.97 on Monday in preparation for the Belmont. Trainer Barclay Tagg was not happy with the breeze, the fastest of three times moves at the distance.
"Two works before a Classic race, and this is not what I wanted," Tagg said. "It's no wonder I'm always in a bad mood."
Tagg is undecided about future plans for Tale of Ekati, the winner of the Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct. The Tale of the Cat colt enters off a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
Grade 2 winner Anak Nakal worked four furlongs in :48.68 handily on Monday at Saratoga Race Course's training track in preparation for a possible start in the Belmont. Nick Zito trains Anak Nakal, the winner of the 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby.
