Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Grade 3 Gotham-winner Weyburn is unlikely to point to the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.
A Chiefswood Stables homebred son of Pioneerof the Nile, Weyburn had to scratch out of the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on May 8 after spiking a temperature. The dark bay colt returned to the work tab on May 14, covering a half-mile in 49.10 on the Belmont dirt training track.
“It’s a long possibility,” Jerkens said of the Belmont Stakes. “We’re kind of in a tough spot with him right now. I don’t really want to cut him back in distance.”
Weyburn broke his maiden at third asking traveling a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on December 5, before winning the Gotham over the same track and distance on March 6.
He has not raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 3. While a Belmont Stakes appearance appears unlikely, Jerkens mentioned the $150,000 Pegasus on June 13 at Monmouth Park as a possible target.
“There’s the Pegasus at Monmouth,” Jerkens said. “That’s one of the only things that would make the most sense with him to accomplish what we want with him this year. I’m going to speak to Robert Landry [general manager of Chiefswood Stables] and figure it out.”
Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun is being pointed to the Pegasus.
In 2010, Jerkens used the Pegasus as a springboard for Afleet Express, who went on to win the Grade 1 Travers later that summer.
Weyburn, a homebred, is out of the black-type producing A.P. Indy mare Sunday Affair, whose other offspring include multiple graded stakes-winner Yorkton and multiple stakes-placed Nipigon.
The colt is one of the top contenders for the August 22 Queen’s Plate but his racing plans will be focused on racing in the U.S.
BELMONT STAKES PROBABLE STARTERS – 13
(courtesy Horse racing Nation)
Essential Quality
Tapit
B. Cox
4th, 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1)
Hot Rod Charlie
Oxbow
D. O’Neill
3rd, 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1)
Known Agenda
Curlin
T. Pletcher
9th, 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1)
Rock Your World
Candy Ride
J. Sadler
17th, 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1)
Rombauer
Twirling Candy
M. McCarthy
1st, 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1)
Rebel’s Romance
Dubawi
C. Appleby
1st, 2021 UAE Derby (G2)
Bourbonic
Bernardini
T. Pletcher
13th, 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1)
Brooklyn Strong
Wicked Strong
D. Velazquez
15th, 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1)
Keepmeinmind
Laoban
R. Diodoro
4th, 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1)
Get Her Number
Dialed In
P. Miller
4th, 2021 Arkansas Derby (G1)
Overtook
Curlin
T. Pletcher
3rd, 2021 Peter Pan (G3)
Promise Keeper
Constitution
T. Pletcher
1st, 2021 Peter Pan (G3)
France Go de Ina
Will Take Charge
H. Mori
7th, 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1)
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