Commanding Curve, second to California Chrome in the Kentucky Derby, had a five-furlong workout Friday at Churchill Downs ahead of the 146th Belmont Stakes on June 7.
Trained by Dallas Stewart for West Point Thoroughbreds, Commanding Curve covered the five furlongs in 59 4/5 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 2/5.
"I think he'll be fine to handle the distance," Stewart said. "He had a great work today, he's fit and I think the distance will fit him just fine."
Commanding Curve will again be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes and will ship from Louisville on Wednesday. He has shown improvement in each of his stakes races this year.
He finished sixth in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds and followed with a third in the Louisiana Derby before rallying for second in the Run for the Roses.
"There are going to be some nice horses in there," Stewart added. "Of course California Chrome is a really nice horse and will obviously be the favorite. Ride On Curlin is another solid horse in there that will be tough.
"We'll need a good trip. He needs to be close at the quarter pole. Approaching the quarter pole having only one or two horses beat probably won't get it done. He needs to be a little closer and just have nice positioning turning for home."
This year, Commanding Curve has earned $504,000 in three starts.
[SportsNetwork.com]
