Creative Minister (Creative Cause), coming off a third-place effort in the GI Preakness S., tuned up for the June 11 GI Belmont S. with a four-furlong work in :48.33 (2/5) at Belmont Park Tuesday.
NYRA clockers caught Creative Minister marking off a quarter-mile in :24 over the fast track, rolling through without much urging from jockey Heman Harkie. Rounding the turn and heading for the wire, Harkie remained still aboard the grey colt who continued a steady rhythm down the stretch to complete the work in :48.33, galloping out five-eighths in 1:01 flat.
“This horse is all class. It was a nice little maintenance half-mile and wasn't anything complicated,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “We just wanted to let him stretch his legs a little over the track. I think historically it's a track you've got to get used to. I had luck with Sarava training him up there immediately after the Preakness.”
Sarava won the 2002 Belmont for McPeek as a 70-1 outsider.
Creative Minister followed a maiden win at Keeneland in April with a Churchill allowance score May 7 and made his stakes debut when third behind Early Voting (Gun Runner) in the Preakness.
“It was another big step forward for him,” McPeek said of the Preakness effort. “He showed he fits in with some of the better 3-year-olds in the nation.”
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