Sovereignty Breezes in Latest Belmont Work, Preparations Continue for Grade I Hopefuls

[Wandering Eyes]

Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was out over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Saturday morning as his preparations for the GI Belmont Stakes continued while a fleet of Grade I hopefuls also put in their works for respective contests.

Putting in his second move since winning the nation's top prize for sophomores in early May, the Godolphin homebred went in company with fellow Grade I-winner Arthur's Ride (Tapit)–the pair clocking five panels in 1:02.54 (4/5) and 1:02.94 (5/5), respectively. Sovereignty started two lengths behind the grey and to his outside. NYRA clockers caught sectionals of 12 2/5, 25 1/5, and 37 4/5 before the Derby winner overtook his workmate through the turn and inched ahead at the end of the work. His gallop out was caught in 1:17 flat and 1:33.10.

“I thought it was good,” trainer Bill Mott said back at his barn. “He was a little strong in the warm-up. When he [Poznansky] tipped him out, he kind of went right to the other horse. He had him in behind to begin, and he went well.”

Since Sovereignty's return to the track, Mott says he's noted a change in his charge's overall demeanor since claiming the roses. He expects the colt to have another breeze before the Belmont.

“He's almost a little more aggressive,” Mott said. “It [the Derby] hasn't set him back. He's just getting a little stronger than he was. He wasn't quite that strong [before the Derby].”

Regarding Arthur's Ride, who has not started since finishing well back in last November's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Mott noted it was only his fifth work since that race last year.

“I thought he went well the first five-eighths–he probably got a little tired. He hasn't had that many works.”

It wasn't just the elite colts on the Oklahoma track Saturday as the Mott barn also sent out MGSW & MGISP Scylla (Tapit) to work four furlongs in company with GSW Resilience (Into Mischief). The pair rolled through the breeze in :48.25, the joint second-fastest of 21 that morning. Scylla is under consideration for the GII Bed o' Roses Stakes June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Grade I Trio, Two from Brown barn and One for Weaver, Work over Oklahoma

Trainer Chad Brown sent out three horses Saturday morning for half-mile works over the Oklahoma training track–MGISW Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), MGISW Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro), and GSP Praetor (Into Mischief), who worked with the former while the latter went alone. The pair were clocked in :48.65 (4/21) and the solo went in :49.95 (9/21).

Geaorge Weaver's GI Matriarch Stakes victress Sacred Wish (Not This Time) also went a half-mile in :51.25 in her first work since finishing seventh in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile May 3.

Hill Road (rail) works in company with Lordship (outside) | Susie Raisher

Hill Road Leads Breezers on the Belmont Park Training Track

Downstate from Saratoga, but seeing their fair share of elite horses in the morning, the Belmont Park training track was also busy Saturday with Chad Brown's GI Belmont Stakes hopeful Hill Road (Quality Road) leading the parade of workers.

Out for his first breeze since winning the GIII Peter Pan Stakes in dramatic fashion May 10, the colt went in company with Lordship (Gun Runner)–who was sporting blinkers for the first time–as the pair clocked four furlongs in :48.75 (43/153). The effort was everything Brown wanted to see from his Belmont contender.

“[Hill Road] worked super, I'm really pleased with him,” said Brown. “He had a nice gallop-out. He is coming along really well. He came out of his last race really well.”

“I put this horse Lordship on the outside of him, they were a good match, they galloped out strong. They are two endurance type horses that are kind of stayers.”

Brown continued, “I just wanted a steady work but with a strong gallop-out. These are staying horses that the best part of their works and races will be the late stages, I liked what I saw around the turn galloping out. He is very fit now, Hill Road. He is in a good part of his form cycle. I'm just looking to maintain where I'm at with that horse.”

The conditioner also provided some future targets for Juddmonte's homebred Garamond (Uncle Mo), who most notably defeated the well-met Bob Baffert runner Cornucopian (Into Mischief) in an optional claimer Apr. 27. The colt is being pointed to the Listed NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes June 14 at Monmouth with an eye on an eventual start in the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes July 19.

“He's heading over to the Pegasus at Monmouth,” said Brown. “For the time being, I'm hoping he turns into a Haskell horse, I don't want to upend that plan.”

Macho Music Prepares for Woody Stephens at Churchill

GSW Macho Music (Maclean's Music), winner of the GII Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard, worked Friday with an eye toward a next start in the GI Woody Stephens June 7 during the Belmont Stakes Festival. In his first breeze back since his 3 1/4-length score, he clocked five panels in 1:00.60 over the training track, the best of two on the morning. Trainer Rohan Crichton was happy with what he saw from Macho Music.

“It was good. He worked really well,” said Crichton, who is looking to claim his first win at the elite level. “Julien Leparoux worked him and said he galloped out really well. We are happy, and he cooled out well, so we are moving forward.”

Crichton continued, “It was really gratifying to see him run that way [in the Pat Day]. That was our biggest win for sure, no doubt.”

“I think he is getting ready to put in another good run. He's come out of that race full of energy and focus, and he's doing really well. We are probably going to sit chilly in Louisville due to weather and ship to Saratoga after his next work.”

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