DOWN THE STRETCH

▪ Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez was aboard Preakness winner National Treasure on Tuesday when the Quality Road colt worked a half mile in 50.85 seconds in preparation for a probable start in the $1.5million Belmont Stakes on June 10. Velazquez told the Daily Racing Form he was “very happy” with the work. “I didn't want to let him do too much ... that's what we need, a fresh horse,” he said. “We just ran a couple of weeks ago, so I don't want to overdo it either.” National Treasure would be trainer Bob Baffert's first starter in the Belmont since 2018when Justify won the Triple Crown.

▪ The two stakes at Santa Anita this weekend will highlight 3-year-olds. On Saturday, the fillies get their time to shine in the $200,000Grade II Summertime Oaks at 11/16 miles over the main track. The unbeaten Anywho for trainer John Sadler will be making her two-turn debut and is the 3-1 co-second choice on the morning line with Doinitthehardway. The Alys Look, third in the Kentucky Oaks and shipped in from Keeneland for the race, is the 5-2 favorite. The $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at 11/16 miles on Sunday attracted a field of six, including the John Shirreffs-trained Skinner, third in the Santa Anita Derby.

▪ After locking up a berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 with a victory in Monday's Grade I Shoemaker Mile, trainer Peter Eurton said Exaulted will be given a respite and probably won't start again until the Grade II Del Mar Mile on Sept. 2. “I don't really want to travel since the Breeders' Cup is right here in our backyard,” Eurton told Santa Anita publicity. “And I don't want to go farther in distance and make it a job for him. So there's nothing that really fits him until the Del Mar Mile. We'll have a nice fresh horse.” Exaulted has won all four of his starts since switching from dirt to turf in January.