Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin worked the final four of
his Breeders’ Cup contenders early Saturday morning over Belmont
Park’s training track.
Under jockey Calvin Borel, Classic-bound
Rattlesnake Bridge
worked five furlongs in company with the Juvenile-bound Alpha, with the pair covering the distance
in 1:00.83 and 1:00.84, respectively, out of the gate. Trappe Shot, pre-entered in the Dirt Mile
and the Sprint, went a half-mile in 49.83 and Miss
Netta, who is heading for the Juvenile Fillies, worked a half in a bullet
46.87 out of the gate under jockey Rajiv Maragh.
“It was nice to get Calvin here to get a feel for the gray horse
because he will ride him Saturday,” said McLaughlin. “He’s a
bit keen, and we want Calvin to take him back like he can do. We hope that he
settles toward the rear. Calvin didn’t think that would be a problem, so
we’re glad he worked him. Trappe Shot, we were looking for just what we
got. Miss Netta worked a bit quick out of the gate, but sometimes the gate gets
them a bit eager. We wanted to kick her out of the gate after her nightmare day
at the Frizette. She came out of it great, we had a good morning.”
All five are scheduled to depart Belmont Park
Monday by van, arriving at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning.
McLaughlin had high praise for NYRA Director of Racing Surfaces Glen
Kozak, who had the training track ready for an onslaught of workers Saturday
morning following rain on Thursday and in advance of more wet weather arriving
Saturday.
“I hadn’t been sleeping well, worrying about the weather
and how the track was going to be, when we were going to harrow, what’s
going on,” said McLaughlin. “So I got a text from Glen at 4:05 this
morning, saying the track was harrowed to open, with the rain moving in between
8 and 9. He said it looked OK and that it would be harrowed at 7:30 if the rain
didn’t arrive early. We were going to work two at 6 a.m. and two at 7:30,
but it looked good so we went with all four at 7:30. By 8:05, it was raining,
so we got lucky. We need to give him a nice pat on the back.”