Belmont Stakes hopefuls put in Friday workouts

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - All three of trainer Todd Pletcher's Belmont Stakes contenders had workouts Friday morning as they prepare to take on Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah on Saturday, June 6.

Madefromlucky, Materiality and Carpe Diem all worked four furlongs at Belmont Park.

Carpe Diem, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes, was timed in 47.66 seconds, Peter Pan winner Madefromlucky in 47.84 seconds and Florida Derby champ Materiality in 47.78 seconds.

Also working four furlongs at Belmont was trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's Frosted. The colt was caught in 47.84 seconds.

On Thursday, trainer Ken McPeek confirmed that The Truth or Else will start in the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" while trainer Mark Casse withdrew Conquest Curlinate.

"My horse loves the Belmont track," said McPeek, who won the 2002 Belmont Stakes with Sarava. "He has two starts and two wins on a dry track at Belmont. And he's out of a Colonial Affair mare (Lakenheath) so he should get the distance. His last race was a confidence builder. He got a good time and an excellent speed figure. His last two races have set him up for this. He really needed to win his last race (allowance at Belmont), which he did."

The Belmont Stakes currently has a possible 10-horse field: American Pharoah (jockey Victor Espinoza, trainer Bob Baffert); Carpe Diem (undecided, Todd Pletcher); Frammento (Mike Smith, Nick Zito); Frosted (Joel Rosario, Kiaran McLaughlin); Keen Ice (Kent Desormeaux, Dale Romans); Madefromlucky (undecided, Todd Pletcher); Materiality (undecided, Todd Pletcher); Mubtaahij (Irad Ortiz Jr., Mike de Kock), The Truth Or Else (Edgar Prado, Kenny McPeek) and Tale of Verve (Gary Stevens, Dallas Stewart).