Winchell Thoroughbreds' Kentucky homebred Red Route One has settled into his routine at Belmont Park since arriving on May 19 to prepare for an intended start in the $1.5-million Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 10.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the chestnut son of Gun Runner has gone out for light exercise each morning while under the care of Asmussen's Belmont assistant, Toby Sheets, who said Red Route One had an easy gallop over the main track Saturday.
“He's doing well,” said Sheets. “He went to the main track today and I'm very happy with him. We haven't breezed him yet and he has just been galloping. He seems good over the track and he likes his round pen.”
Red Route One was last seen finishing a closing fourth in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 20 where he made up ground late but could not reel in the runaway pair of Blazing Sevens and the victorious National Treasure after the latter set moderate fractions throughout.
He won the nine-furlong Bath House Row by a head two starts back at Oaklawn Park and has finished on-the-board in three graded events when second in the Grade 2 Rebel and Grade 3 Southwest this year, and third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity as a juvenile.
The regally bred Red Route One is out of the unraced Tapit mare Red House, a full sister to 2014 champion 3-year-old filly Untapable and a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and sire Paddy O'Prado. Red Route One is closely related to Grade 2 Wood Memorial third-place finisher Dreamlike, who is also by Gun Runner and out of a full sister to Red House named Time to Tap.
Angel Of Empire, Hit Show Breeze At Churchill Downs
Trainer Brad Cox will go two deep in pursuit of his second conquest in the Belmont Stakes with Kentucky Derby (G1) alumnus Angel of Empire [third] and Hit Show [fifth]. Both horses breezed Saturday at Churchill Downs, visiting the track at 5:30 a.m. (ET).
Albaugh Family Stables' Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire went in company with graded stakes winner Warrant and logged five-eighths in :59.80 over the fast main track.
Gary and Mary West's Hit Show, second in the Wood Memorial , completed his five-furlong move in 1:00.20 in company with two-time winning sophomore Salute the Stars.
“Angel of Empire and Hit Show worked really well this morning,” said Cox, who saddled 2021 Belmont winner Essential Quality. “Both horses have exited the Derby in good shape and have been able to get back to regular training. Angel of Empire worked with Warrant. He started a couple lengths back and finished up well around the turn. Hit Show is a more aggressive type of horse and gets a lot out of his training. He worked with Salute the Stars who's a good work horse as well. They had a very solid move.”
Both Angel of Empire and Hit Show will record their final breeze at Churchill Downs next Saturday before shipping to Belmont early the following week.
The post Belmont Notes: Red Route One Has Easy Gallop; Angel Of Empire, Hit Show Work At Churchill appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
