Donnie Von Hemel rolled out his stars of the barn to work at Oaklawn Park
Cheyenne Stables and McNeill Stables owned, Caleb’s Posse, was suppose to be a dominant force in his seasonal debut when he ran in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Stakes at Aqueduct on 3 March, 2012, after being cut back in distance from 1 mile to 6 furlongs, the Grade
1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner was back in familiar territory.
Though, with Calibrachoa in the lineup, Caleb’s Posse remained the second best throughout the race, as the winner covered the six furlong distance in 1 minute and 9.07 seconds.
Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel has been busy working his string in late March, as he rolled out his barn’s top runners at Oaklawn Park, starting off with Caleb’s Posse on 27 March, 2012, who drilled five furlongs in a good time of 59 4/5 seconds, working ahead
of his next start in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on 7 April, 2012.
The Kentucky bred son of Posse, will have an opportunity of a rematch with Calibrachoa, who is a probable for the Carter as well.
According to trainer Donnie Von Hemel, the work for Caleb’s Posse was more of a maintenance work, while the Carter is a furlong longer than the Tom Fool Stakes, Caleb’s Posse will have to be ready for the distance and a stiff competition that the race holds.
“In this work, we knew he needed to do something pretty good and we got it,” Von Hemel said. “We don’t need any more speed works from him at this point.”
Donnie Von Hemel took out the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap winner, Alternation, as well for a work, who turned in third fastest work of the day over a distance of five furlongs in 1 minute and 2/5 seconds, which pleased the trainer.
“I was happy with it because he probably started off going about :25 for the first quarter but was really picking it up down the lane,” he said of the Pin Oak Stable runner. “He was wearing blinkers, but he was still nice and relaxed. That was the test this
morning. To see if he could stay relaxed until we asked him.”
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