Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The first
Belmont Stakes horse on Belmont
Park’s main track
Thursday morning was My Adonis,
who galloped just over a mile after the gates opened at 5:30.
New Jersey-based
trainer Kelly Breen was on hand to watch My Adonis, who was a late confirmation
for the race, coming on the evening before Wednesday’s entries were
drawn.
“I
needed to get back to Monmouth
Park and take care of
some things, so I wanted to see him and then beat the traffic to get
back,” Breen said. “He looked good. We were the first ones on the
track going the right way, so it was kind of like his own track.
“He
probably looked around a little more than a horse would if there was company or
something like that, but that’s him. I think most horses have a tendency
to look around a little bit when there’s not much going on. I was very
happy with what I saw.”
Most
recently third, beaten a half-length, in the Canonero II at Pimlico Race Course
on May 5, My Adonis has never raced at Belmont,
but is no stranger to New York.
He was second to 2011 juvenile male champion Hansen in the Grade 3 Gotham on
March 3, and seventh of eight in the Grade 1 Resorts
World Casino New York City Wood
Memorial on April 7, both at Aqueduct.
Breen won
last year’s Belmont Stakes for owners George and Lori Hall with 24-1 long
shot Ruler On Ice. Ridden by Elvis Trujillo in each of his 10 career starts, My
Adonis will have champion jockey Ramon Dominguez aboard on Saturday.
“I don’t
know his actual ability, how fast he can run, but I think he’s ready to
run as best as he possibly can on Saturday,” Breen said of My Adonis.
“He’s pumped up, he looks good, and he’s training good.
I’d have to say that if he’s that caliber, he’s going to give
them hell.”