Kentucky Derby winner Orb galloped a mile at Belmont Park on Thursday.
Elmont, NY (Sports Network) -
Thursday morning marked the return to the track of Kentucky Derby winner Orb. The 3-year-old colt, fourth in the Preakness Stakes, galloped a mile at Belmont Park with exercise rider Jennifer Patterson.
"I was pleased," said trainer Shug McGaughey. "We're taking it as it comes and not looking too far ahead. But if everything goes well, we'd like to run in the Belmont (Stakes)."
Orb, owned by Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable, will be joined in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont by Preakness champ Oxbow, Will Take Charge, Freedom Child, Giant Finish, Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul, Revolutionary, Overanalyze, Palace Malice, filly Unlimited Budget and Code West. Possible starters include Micromanage, Midnight Taboo and Power Broker.
Lukas still beaming after Preakness win
By Don Agriss, Horse Racing Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
It may have been his fifth time winning the Preakness Stakes, but Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas didn't feel any less happy than if it had been the first time.
Lukas, a 14-time winner of Triple Crown races, is now getting Preakness winner Oxbow and Will Take Charge prepared for the 145th Belmont Stakes on June 8. But the excitement of winning the second leg of racing's Triple Crown was still with the 77-year-old conditioner five days later.
"It's always fun to win one of those and it's what we all get up for and try to achieve," he said. "It validated my belief in the horse, too. I always thought he had an unfortunate spring with the way he kept drawing and getting parked outside. To see it all come full cycle, especially with Gary (Stevens) in the irons, it was really gratifying."
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