Make Music for Me, who rallied from last to finish
fourth in the Kentucky Derby in his most recent start, is slated to work one
mile Sunday morning at Belmont Park
in preparation for the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million
Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5.
Trainer Alexis Barba will arrive Saturday morning to watch
the Bernstein colt gallop, with the breeze scheduled to go off about 9 a.m.
Sunday on the main track, according to assistant trainer and exercise rider
Andy Durnin.
Make Music for Me, who is 1-2-1 from nine starts, arrived at
Belmont Park on Monday and has taken nicely to his new surroundings, said
Durnin.
“The first day he galloped over a hard, sealed, sloppy track
and went well, and the last two last two days it’s been deep and sandy, and he’s
getting across it really well, too,” said Durnin. “So far, knock wood, he’s
gotten over anything he’s put his foot on. And it made sense to get here early
so he can get a couple of nice breezes over the track and really get a feel for
it.”
Owned by Ellen and Peter Johnson, Make Music for Me’s first
victory came in his seventh start, an overnight stakes on the turf at Santa
Anita on March 6 in his 3-year-old debut. As a 2-year-old, he was off the board
once in six starts, finishing second to Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky in the
Grade 2 Best Pal and the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and third, beaten 1 ¼
lengths, behind him in the Grade 1 Cash Call Futurity.
“The way Lookin At Lucky ran in the Preakness does his form
good as he finished close to him three times,” noted Durnin. “In the Derby,
he wasn’t stopping at all. Eight wide cost him a bit of ground. Hopefully,
there won’t be any distance limitations. He does relax, so I don’t think he’ll
use himself up early.”
Joel Rosario, who was aboard in the Kentucky Derby, is
scheduled to ride Make Music for Me in the 1 ½ mile Belmont.