**For video of Drosselmeyer's work please visit: http://www.belmontstakes.com/multimedia/2010-contenders/2010/05/31/drosselmeyer-fires-bullet-move-for-belmont/**
Monday, May 31, 2010
Contact: NYRA Press Office
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- Drosselmeyer tunes up for
- "Music" also fires bullet on training track; Stately Victor works
- Game On Dude drills in California, ships Wednesday
- Stay Put jogs following Sunday's work
Stepping onto Belmont Park's main track shortly after the mid-morning renovation break, the chestnut colt broke off several lengths behind workmate Vision d'Amour, then drew alongside and pulled ahead to finish with a flourish in the fastest of a dozen works at the distance.
"The fact that it was that fast, I'm not disappointed," said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. "He's supposedly a good horse and I was looking for a decent work. I put some company with him, and I thought he would work a bit faster, which he did. He finished up well, and galloped out well, seven furlongs in 1:26 and change. When you get in that range, you're talking about racehorse times."
The 1 ½ mile Belmont will be the Distorted Humor colt's fifth start of the year and first since finishing second to Fly Down in the Grade 2 Dwyer on May 8. In two previous starts at the Fair Grounds, he was fourth in the Risen Star and third in the Louisiana Derby.
"I think we're in there with a chance," said Mott, who is saddling his first
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After breezing Make Music for Me over the main track eight days ago, trainer Alexis Barba had her Belmont Stakes hopeful work over the training track Monday morning for a change of pace.
Fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby most recently, Make Music for Me drilled five furlongs in 1:01.21, the fastest of 10 at the distance.
"On the main track he's been off the bridle," said Barba. "When I galloped him yesterday on the training track, he was a little more into it. And he was again today. He was a little sharper. He's been on the main track since he arrived here. [Today's workout] was just a little change up. Sometimes horses do better with that."
Trainer Mike Maker also changed plans, moving up Stately Victor's work one day, with the Ghostzapper going a half-mile in 49.93 over the main track. The move was the 16th fastest of 23 at the distance.
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In
Baffert said he had Game On Dude going five furlongs in :59 4/5.
"When we first purchased him, he had gate problems," said Baffert, who is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, as is the horse. "I can't stand it when they don't break running. Today he was good in the gate, tracked the other horse, and wasn't too tired when he got back. He's coming into the race very well. I liked what I saw today; if I didn't I wouldn't bring him."
Baffert won the
"I was watching TVG the other day and they had a show on the Triple Crown," said Baffert. "I sat there and tortured myself. My wife actually asked me, 'Why are you sitting there are torturing yourself?' I still can't believe Real Quiet got beat."
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Expected
"I took him out and jogged today, he went fine and he's doing well,' said Loren Diego, exercise rider and assistant to trainer Steve Margolis. "He's going to walk tomorrow and go back to the track Wednesday to gallop, and he'll gallop three days in a row. And then, race day. Steve will be here tomorrow morning."
Winner of an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, Stay Put arrived at
"He came back from the work well," Diego added. "I liked the way he was acting on the track this morning. He was feeling good, acting up – like he was ready to gallop."
With the addition of the Todd Pletcher-trained Interactif, the field for the
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