At Belmont
Park, Stay Put
went an easy half-mile just after the renovation break under exercise rider
Loren Diego, with NYRA clockers catching the chestnut colt in 50.62.
“I liked the way he breezed this morning,’ said Diego, who
is supervising Stay Put’s Belmont preparations until trainer Steve Margolis
arrives Monday evening. “The main thing is to keep him happy, keep him fresh. I
think he’s been handling the track well since he’s been here.”
Winner of an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on Derby
Day, Stay Put arrived at Belmont
Park on Thursday,
galloping over the main track twice prior to Sunday’s move. According to Diego,
Stay Put will jog a mile on Monday, walk or jog on Tuesday, and gallop into the
race.
“I think a mile-and-a-half suits him,” said Diego. ”It’s
going to help him because he comes from off the pace.”
Two other Belmont
hopefuls who were going to work Sunday will instead work Monday: Hall of Fame
trainer Bill Mott will send out Dwyer runner-up Drosselmeyer
over the main track after the renovation break, and trainer Alexis Barba will
switch things up and prep Make Music for Me over the training
track.
“It’s a change of scenery,” said Barba. “I think he’s had
enough of getting used to the main track.”