Alpha turned in his first work after the Kentucky Derby
Godolphin Racing’s 3-year-old colt, Alpha is possible for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on 9 June, 2012, but trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is still unsure whether the Bernardini colt will become a part of the lineup that will assemble in the second week of June.
If he goes on to run in the Belmont Stake, than Alpha will team up with Union Rags to spoil I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown bid in the one and a half mile “Test of the Champion.”
Bred in Kentucky by Darley, Alpha is exiting a 12th place finish in the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on 5 May, 2012, and went on to skip the Preakness Stakes, but now the colt has had enough rest and will be fresh for the Belmont Stakes.
Alpha turned in his first timed workout on 19 May, 2012, since running in the Kentucky Derby, where he covered four furlongs in 49 seconds flat over the Belmont Park’s fast main track.
"We're not deciding anything yet, we're just going to watch things and let the horse tell us," said Art Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "He's doing great though; good work yesterday, in hand."
Out of Nijinsky II mare Munnaya, Alpha has been successful at New York in his sophomore season, but in the other part of the city at the Aqueduct racetrack.
The 3-year-old colt started off in the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct racetrack on 7 January, 2012, and went on to win the 1 mile 70 yard race.
Stayed at Aqueduct for his next two starts, Alpha went 2 in 2 for his new campaign when he downed the Grade 3 Withers Stakes going at 1 1/16 miles coupled with jockey Ramon Dominguez.
Stretched out in distance to 1 1/8 miles, the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes was the final prep race for Alpha, but Gemologist came in to extend his winning streak, as he defeated Alpha to finish second, and spoiling the colt’s hat-trick at Aqueduct.
Dullahan , Optimizer, and Rousing Sermon are the familiar names that will be rejoin the rest of the Kentucky Derby runners in the Belmont Stakes along with some newcomers.
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