Photo: Kevin Creative (Kevin House)
After watching Guyana Star Dweej put in a half-mile work on Belmont
Park’s main track Monday morning, owner-trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal
confirmed the Eddington colt will make his next start in Saturday’s
Belmont Stakes.
“Guyana Star is in the Belmont,” Shivmangal
said. “I was very pleased with him yesterday morning, but I am more
pleased today. We were able to beat the weather, and he did what he needed to
do. I think Guyana Star is back on the straight path again.”
Working in company with Grade 3 Pilgrim
winner Shkspeare Shaliyah, Guyana Star Dweej went a
quarter-mile in 22.76 and a half in 49.06, galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.39,
according to NYRA clockers. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was aboard for
the work and will ride in the Belmont.
“Kent said he was very relaxed and
went very easy,” Shivmangal said. “Of all the horses in the barn,
he’ll be the first one to clean his feed tub. He’s a nice horse.
Nothing bothers him.”
Desormeaux has ridden in the Belmont seven times, but
not since winning with Summer Bird in 2009. He has finished second twice, with
Real Quiet in 1998 and Medaglia d’Oro in 2002.
Guyana Star Dweej was second to fellow Belmont contender Unstoppable U in a one-mile optional
claimer at Belmont
Park on April 27 in his
most recent start, with jockey Eddie Castro aboard. Apprentice Samuel Camacho
Jr. was up for the previous three races, including his lone victory on April 7
at Aqueduct.
“Kent came by with his agent and
they were asking about the horse,” Shivmangal said. “We were
debating who would ride him. My kids were thinking I should bring Camacho back
to ride. I told them I have nothing against him. He won on the horse, but this
is a big race, the toughest of the Triple Crown races to win.
“I love to use the bug kids, because
I know they try every time. I met with my wife and kids and we decided to go
with Kent.
We felt it was the right decision to have an experienced jockey who knows what
it takes. We believe in loyalty, but this is a big race and not a small race.
You have to have somebody who knows how to do it.”
Shivmangal had been pointing to the May 19
Preakness for Guyana Star Dweej, who was pulled from consideration with a left
front leg injury three days before the race.
In addition to Monday’s work,
Shivmangal was encouraged to run in the Belmont
by the way the horse galloped Sunday morning, also with Desormeaux up.
“After his gallop yesterday, I was
very pleased,” he said. “He is not a work horse in the morning, but
he can run. I know for a fact that he runs better than he works. In a Triple
Crown race, anything can happen. The first three or four horses are the high
contenders, and after that the rest of them are mediocre horses.”