Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith's dual graded stakes winner Sierra Leone posted a five-furlong breeze in company with grade 3 winner Domestic Product May 25over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track.
Sierra Leone, who is targeting the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) June 8 at the Spa, worked in his typical blinkers to the inside of Domestic Product as New York Racing Association clockers caught the pair through splits of :13.28, :25.87, :37.95 and through five furlongs in 1:02.64 before galloping out in 1:15.78 and 1:28.64 over the fast footing.
MGSW SIERRA LEONE works to the inside of DOMESTIC PRODUCT a short while ago over the Oklahoma. NYRA clockers caught them covering 5 furlongs in 1:02.64, out in 1:15.78. pic.twitter.com/JgbCQrCyRo
— Mary Eddy🏇🏼 (@singmysongbird) May 25, 2024
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown said he was pleased with the work from both horses.
"It was good. It was just what I wanted—a steady five-eighths and let them gallop out," said Brown. "I want to maintain where I'm at with the horse (Sierra Leone)and I'm thrilled with how he's moving."
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Sierra Leone, who was runner-up in the Kentucky Derby (G1) after a dramatic three-way stretch battle with Forever Young and the victorious Mystik Dan, sported a new type of bit—a cage bit—for his work Saturday in hopes of a more controlled ride.
"We're experimenting a little bit," said Brown. "I tried it a little bit in the winter, and I wasn't sold on it, so we went with just some blinkers in the Risen Star and he responded well. But I'm thinking about tweaking a little bit—not positive yet—to give the rider some more control. It could potentially help a little bit.
"He's never done much in the mornings, and sometimes it's hard to recreate (afternoon issues)in the mornings," Brown continued. "The horse had never had us worried about steering issues in the mornings. All we try to do is—as they show us more in the afternoons—is to be prepared."
Along with a possible equipment change for the Belmont, Brown noted that regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione will not ride the son of Gun Runner in the 1 1/4-mile test, instead opting for the services of Flavien Prat.
"Tyler, from where he was, worked out a very good trip (in the Derby)," Brown commented. "He paused a few times—in the first turn, he paused behind some horses who were in his way, and around the five-sixteenths pole, there were some tired horses who came up on him and he had to get around them. It cost him a little bit, but I thought those decisions were good. I'm moving forward with the change (to Prat)and we'll see how it goes."
As for Klaravich Stables' Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Domestic Product, Brown said a cutback is likely for the son of Practical Joke after finishing a troubled 13th in the Kentucky Derby.
Brown, who won the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) with Practical Joke on a cutback three starts after a fifth in the Derby in 2017, said Domestic Product could be following the same trajectory as his sire. His next target could be the seven-furlong $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) June 8.
"I'm not sure, but I'm probably going to cut the horse back in distance," said Brown. "He's possible for the Woody Stephens. Obviously Practical Joke was cut back late in the year and did good. We're thinking about that."
While Domestic Product will skip the Belmont Stakes, Brown could have one other contender in William Lawrence, Walmac Farm, and Stonestreet Stables' Tuscan Gold, who finished fourth in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1).
"I'm going to work the horse next weekend and then decide," said Brown. "The work and how he's bounced out of the race will let me know."
Honor Marie works at Churchill Downs for Belmont
Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein's Honor Marie breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5Saturday at Churchill Downs as he prepares for the Belmont Stakes.
Trained by Whit Beckman, the Honor Code bay was a last-out eighth after a troubled trip inthe 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby.
Beckman said his colt came away from the frustrating trip in good order and has seemed well going into the Belmont Stakes.
"Despite that tough trip in the Derby, he popped out of that race in fantastic order. We got one more work between now and then," said Beckman. "If everything goes as well as it has been going, we are planning on shipping up early next week."
Beckman said Saturday's work, his second breeze back since the Derby, was well within himself going in company with maiden winner Anthem King.
"The work went great, kind of a right down the middle five-eighths, 1:01 and change," said Beckman. "Just what we were looking for: nothing quick, nothing slow, just well within himself. He did it fairly easily with good energy throughout, galloped out in 1:14, came back, cooled out quickly, and looked good."
— Legion Bloodstock (@LegionBldstk) May 25, 2024HONOR MARIE (inside) getting his last 5/8 work in @ChurchillDowns before this years @BelmontStakes. ⏱️
He couldn’t be training any better and will work once more before shipping up to Saratoga sometime next time week! pic.twitter.com/cnVyFsGz5G
Honor Marie, who was jostled at the start of the Derby, will seek more running room in the Belmont, which Beckman believes could be aided by a smaller field.
"It's just less horses. The Derby gates open and it's a cavalry charge. If you catch a position like we were, getting pushed from the inside and outside, getting pingponged, our shot was pretty much blown there," said Beckman. "I don't think we got 50 free yards during the whole race to run clear or free. With less horses in the Belmont, I feel like this horse is a very good closer and can run with the best 3-year-olds in the country."
Honor Marie's Derby rider Ben Curtis has been sidelined with an injury, and Beckman said no rider has been named yet for the Belmont mount.
Out of the graded stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Dame Marie, Honor Marie holds a lifetime record of 2-2-0 from six starts with $526,175 in earnings.
Also on the work tab this morning at Churchill Downs was possible Belmont Stakes contender The Wine Steward, who covered a half-mile in :48.
Trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, theVino Rosso colt was last seen finishing a strong second in the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Bred in the Empire State by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm, and Mark Toothaker, The Wine Steward is a dual stakes winner with additional placings at Keeneland when second in both the Breeders' Futurity (G1) in October and the Lexington Stakes (G3) in April.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
