Keepmeinmind to Skip Belmont

[Wandering Eyes]

Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind (Laoban), who worked a half-mile in :46.92 (1/6) over a sloppy Belmont dirt training track Monday, will skip Saturday's GI Belmont S. and could make his next start over the turf in the July 10 GI Belmont Derby.

“He worked great this morning, but thinking about it some more, I think he needs a little more time,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “We were always 50-50 for the race, but I think as soon as we arrived at Belmont people got the impression we were leaning towards that race and it really wasn't the case.”

Winner of last year's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., Keepmeinmind was seventh in the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby and fourth in the May 15 GI Preakness S.

Diodoro said the colt would work over the turf next week before a decision is made on the 10-furlong Belmont Derby, with the June 26 GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown also a possible next start.

“[Jockey David] Cohen mentioned that this horse could be a grass horse and a couple of the gallop boys have said the same thing. I'm curious to see what happens,” Diodoro said. “He's a big 3-year-old and he's a big baby, still. I think with time, he's only going to get better. We'll take a step back and let him develop.”

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