Trainer
Steve Asmussen headed back to Kentucky
early Sunday morning, but not before checking in on Nehro, who ended a
streak of three consecutive runner-up finishes by finishing fourth in the
Belmont Stakes.
The
Belmont was the seventh career start for Nehro
and fourth straight in a graded stakes, after running second in the Louisiana
Derby, Arkansas Derby
and Kentucky Derby, his most recent effort, on May 7.
“He
looks in pretty good order, no worse for the wear and tear,” said Asmussen’s
New York-based assistant, Toby Sheets. “He ate a lot of dirt, but he came back
and ate up and came out of it in good order, so everything looks good.”
Nehro
broke from post 6 in the Belmont
and was quickly guided to the rail by jockey Corey Nakatani heading into the
first turn. They were able to save ground on the sloppy, sealed main track
before angling out past the quarter pole and making a late run, beaten 7 ½
lengths by long shot winner Ruler On Ice.
“I
don’t know if it was the surface or eating all the muck,” Sheets said. “All the
winners yesterday were on the front end or close to it, or ate no mud, and he ate
a ton of mud. The horse that ran second [Stay Thirsty] was on the fence not
eating any mud, and the horse that won was on the outside.
“The
note of the day, basically, is that most of the horses that won, their bridles
were all clean when they came back.”
Nehro’s
next start is uncertain, but Sheets said the horse will stay with Asmussen’s Belmont
string before heading to Saratoga Race Course next month.
Meanwhile,
the barn was able to celebrate the performance of Justin Phillip, who
earned his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 $250,000 Woody
Stephens, presented by VisitNassauCounty.com.
Ridden
by Ramon Dominguez, Justin Phillip set fractions of 22.23 and 44.45 and opened
a five-length lead at the top of the stretch before hitting the wire 3 ¼
lengths ahead of J J’s Lucky Train in 1:23.56 for seven furlongs.
It
was the second win in as many tries at Belmont
Park for Justin Phillip,
who broke his maiden at six furlongs last September. No decision has been made
on where he will run next.
“It
was a nice win. It definitely helps the morale,” Sheets said. “He looks
excellent. It was a breakthrough race for him. He’s been training super and
he’s run super here, so we’re very pleased.”