Rich Strike to Work During May 30 Racecard at Churchill

RED TR-Racing's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike will breeze at Churchill Downs during the May 30 afternoon racecard there, between races 5 and 6, in preparation for the June 11 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). The timed workout will occur at approximately 3 p.m. First post for the nine-race program is 12:45 p.m. Jockey Gabriel Lagunes, who also breezes horses for Rich Strike's trainer Eric Reed, will be aboard for the workout. Sonny Leon will ride the Keen Ice colt in the Belmont. The 80-1 upset winner of the Derby will ship to Belmont May 31 in search of the third jewel of racing's Triple Crown. A large field is anticipated for the 1 1/2-mile race, with Derby fifth-place finisher and Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) winner Mo Donegal among Rich Strike's leading foes. Mo Donegal, a Todd Pletcher trainee, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.99 May 27 at Belmont Park in company with stablemate and 3-year-old filly Nest, who is also under consideration for the Belmont Stakes. Nest, a filly by Curlin with Jose Ortiz aboard, and Mo Donegal, who was piloted by his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., also had an extended three-eighths gallop out. "Both riders said that when I told them on the radio to let them go ahead and go out another eighth, both horses jumped up underneath them and showed they still had something left in the tank, so I was happy," said Pletcher. "I think both horses have good foundations. I just wanted a good, steady, stamina-building breeze and I thought we were able to accomplish that." Mo Donegal, owned by Donegal Racing and Repole Stable, broke slowly from the rail in the Kentucky Derby after breaking from the inside post position. A start before the Derby came his Wood Memorial score, when he edged eventual Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Early Voting by a neck. Nest was a runaway winner of the Central Park Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland en route to a runner-up effort in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 6 at Churchill. Nest, in traffic on the second turn, finished well to grab the place. Nest is out of multiple black-type producer Marion Ravenwood, whose sire A.P. Indy won the 1992 Belmont and sired 2007 Belmont winner Rags to Riches, also trained by Pletcher. Pletcher said Ortiz, who was aboard Nest for the first time, was pleased with the breeze. "Jose said the further they went, the better she got," said Pletcher, who added there is a "good possibility" that Ortiz could ride if she runs in the Belmont. Pletcher said Nest's stamina-rich pedigree is one reason why the Belmont is under strong consideration. He had considered 2021 Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat, also by Curlin, for the Belmont last year, but subsequently altered course. "Pedigree wise, it's a no-brainer. You've got Belmont all over her pedigree, so I think she'll run that far. That's a huge part of the consideration," Pletcher said. "She's given us every indication since the Oaks that she's doing well. She's had a very good appetite. Last year with Malathaat, we gave (the Belmont Stakes) some consideration, but we felt like she had lost a little weight and needed a little more time. This filly hasn't done anything to discourage me from thinking about it. I'll get together with the connections later; we've all been on the same page of letting her sell us on the idea of running." Peter Pan Winner We the People Covers Half-Mile for Belmont Also breezing Friday was WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH, and Siena Farm's We the People, who went a half-mile in :48.39 at Belmont for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The son of Constitution established himself as a top contender for the Belmont with a resounding win in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) May 14. He scored by 10 1/4 lengths and earned a 101 Equibase Speed Figure with 1 1/8 miles over a good, sealed track in 1:48.27. "We were happy with the number and you will always have people say it was a sealed track and an easy lead," said Brisset. "But I just feel like that was the right effort right before the Belmont and I think it's the right move to point him to the big one now." Brisset's other runner in the Peter Pan, Western River, ran fourth after stumbling at the start. The trainer said Western River will bypass the Belmont with other summer goals in mind. But another Brisset trainee could compete in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Kuchar, who took a 1 1/4-mile, off-the-turf allowance at Churchill May 22. Brisset said Kuchar is "50/50" for the Belmont, with the Ohio Derby (G3) June 25 at Thistledown being another option.