Gronkowski, Blended Citizen Drill at Big Sandy

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Chad Brown has had his hands on Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) for just a few weeks, but pronounced himself pleased with the Phoenix Thoroughbreds-owned colt after he worked five furlongs in 1:01.87 (see below) over the Belmont main track ahead of next Saturday’s GI Belmont S.

“It went well, galloped out a good three-quarters and I was real happy with it,” Brown said of Gronkowski. “This horse hasn’t put a foot wrong since he’s arrived. He’s a real classy horse and came to me in outstanding condition.”

A winner in four of six European starts for trainer Jeremy Noseda, including a last-out score in the Listed Burradon S. over the all-weather track at Newcastle, Gronkowski won the European Road to the Kentucky Derby and a berth in the gate on the first Saturday in May, only to have those plans derailed with a minor setback. Gronkowski was later sent to the U.S. and in his short time with him, Brown believes he has a colt equipped to stay the Belmont trip.

“Based on his two workouts, he’s made to go a mile and a half on the dirt to me,” said Brown. “In a perfect world, I wish I had him longer and had a better handle on the horse, but it is what it is and I’m fortunate to be in this position to go there with a chance to win.

Brown added, “I could have squeezed three breezes in, but I just didn’t feel the horse was completely acclimated over here yet, so I went with caution and did two works. I wanted to make sure he was ready to work, and he was. Based on what I see, he looks pretty fit. There’s some unknowns–he did miss some time–and coming off a layoff going a mile-and-a-half, that’s about as tough of a task as you can ask a horse to do. But he’s a high-quality horse, so maybe he’s good enough to do it.”

WATCH: Gronkowski works towards the Belmont

Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen), recent winner of the GIII Peter Pan S., took to the Belmont main track around 12:45 p.m. prior to the races Saturday afternoon and went five furlongs in 1:00.64 for his expected appearance in the Belmont (video). Trained by Doug O’Neill, the sophomore went in :12.65 and :24.25 before finishing off his final two furlongs in a smart :23.68 for a time of :47.93 for the half-mile before finishing his work past the wire.

“He covers a lot of ground. He’s a Cadillac,” said jockey Mike Luzzi, who was in the irons for the work. “Obviously we know he likes the track. I wish the best of luck to them next week.”

Leandro Mora, for better than 17 years an assistant to O’Neill, jetted into New York Friday evening and was pleased with what he saw Saturday morning.

“What I like is how easily he did it,” Mora said. “It was nice, I’m very pleased. He wasn’t even making noise going by. I like how he went past the wire. That’s when you know you have a legit horse. I like what I saw.”

The neck winner of the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks over the Turfway Poly Mar. 17, Blended Citizen was a troubled fifth behind champion Good Magic (Curlin) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. ahead of his 47-10 victory last time in the Peter Pan.

 

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