Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Mind Your Biscuits eager in work
ELMONT, N.Y. – It has been six weeks since Mind Your Biscuits did any serious running. On Friday morning he was eager to show his connections that he’s ready to go back into the fray.
Mind Your Biscuits zipped a half-mile in 46.93 seconds over the Belmont Park main track Friday morning as he prepares for a start in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap here June 9, Belmont Stakes Day.
The move was the first for Mind Your Biscuits since his remarkable head victory in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 31. Mind Your Biscuits, a 5-year-old New Yorkbred son of Posse, has won that race the last two years.
With Joel Rosario up Friday morning, Mind Your Biscuits was quite eager when he left his accompanying pony at about the 6 1/2-furlong pole. Rosario had Mind Your Biscuits in the middle of the track before guiding him over toward the inside at the half-mile pole.
Mind Your Biscuits went his first quarter in 23.93 seconds, and though he came four wide – as is typical for him in the morning – turning for home, he got his second quarter in 23.00 seconds. Mind Your Biscuits galloped out five furlongs in 59.76 seconds over a track that produced fast times most of the morning.
“He’s been kind of hinting at that for the last couple of days,” trainer Chad Summers said. “The time’s fast, but I think the track’s a little fast, so that played into it a little, but he does it so easy. He’s not even blowing after the work. I couldn’t be any happier with him.”
Following his victory in the Golden Shaheen, Mind Your Biscuits remained in Dubai for an additional nine days before shipping back to the U.S. on April 9. After clearing quarantine in Chicago, Mind Your Biscuits then spent about two weeks at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland, where he
took advantage of that chamber. facility having a hyperbaric
Mind Your Biscuits shipped to Belmont on April 22.
Summers said that remaining in Dubai for additional time after the race “was huge.”
“I think that’s going to make the difference between being able to run in the race on Belmont Stakes Day and not,” he said. “Last year he lost 100 pounds.”
Summer said he plans to keep Mind Your Biscuits on a Friday work schedule leading up to the Met Mile.
Tapwrit works five furlongs
Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming disappointed in the Alysheba Stakes and his future is uncertain. Preakness winner Cloud Computing came out of his comeback race with a chip in an ankle that requires surgery.
So it may be up to Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit to carry the mantle for the Triple Crown class of 2017.
On Friday, Tapwrit gave an indication he may be up to the challenge with a strong five-furlong workout in 59.60 seconds over the Belmont training track. Under Jose Ortiz, Tapwrit worked outside of Uncle Mojo, the two getting the last quarter in 23.80 seconds. Tapwrit galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80. It was Tapwrit’s first local work since returning to New York from South Florida. He breezed five times at Palm Beach Downs. “Part track, part talent, doing well, good workmate,” trainer Todd Pletcher said in summing up the work. “It was the right kind of fast.” Tapwrit has not run since finishing fourth in August’s Travers Stakes. He battled foot problems that sidelined him through the end of his 3-yearold season and was a little late to get started this year in his training. One early-season objective for Tapwrit is the Grade 2 Suburban here July 7, with a likely prep race before then.
“That was his second fiveeighths,” Pletcher said. “He’s come back really well; he looks great. Look forward to a good summer and fall with him.”
Also working for Pletcher on Friday was Unbridled Mo, the Grade 1 Apple Blossom winner, who is pointing to the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 9.
Unbridled Mo went a halfmile in 48.42 seconds in company with One Liner, the two getting their final quarter in 24.16 seconds. One Liner is possible for the Pimlico Special next Friday.
The Phipps is run at 1 1/16 miles around one turn. Though Unbridled Mo is 0 for 2 in races around one turn, Pletcher said, “I think she’s better now.
“Hopefully, a mile and a sixteenth will be better than a mile,” he said.
Divine Miss Gey may go longer
Divine Miss Grey zipped a half-mile in 47.07 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont training track.
Trainer Danny Gargan said he is considering stretching the multiple stakes-winning miler out in distance in a race such as the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 16. The Fleur de Lis is run at 1 1/8 miles.
“She has a real high cruising speed,” Gargan said. “I think she can go long. I think her mile races are her best races. She’s bred to go long and I think that track will suit her.”
Dylan Davis gets married
Not sure what you did on your day off, but jockey Dylan Davis married longtime fiancée Sara Rowland last Monday on his. Davis, 23, and Rowland had a child last August.
“We’ve been engaged for almost two years,” Davis said Friday. “We were pretty much married anyway. We already had the baby. Everyone’s happy. My family’s happy.”
On the track, Davis had a solid winter at Aqueduct with 47 winners. Things have quieted a bit since, however, as Davis went 8 for 75 at Aqueduct’s spring meet and has begun Belmont’s spring-summer meet 4 for 44.