Jenny Kellner
Belmont Park
ELMONT, N.Y. – With the recent spell of wet weather having finally moved on, three contenders for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes turned in their final serious moves this morning at Belmont Park in preparation for next Saturday’s 1½-mile “Test of the Champion.”

Under bright, sunny skies, Robert V. LaPenta’s pair of Brave Victory and Miner’s Escape worked in tandem after the break under jockey Rajiv Maragh and exercise rider Eddie Cruz, respectively, going a half-mile in 48.66 over the fast main track. The time was the fifth-fastest of 14 at the distance.

Also after the break, Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman’s Summer Bird went five furlongs under Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, with New York Racing Association clockers catching him in 1:01.89, the fifth-fastest of nine moves at the distance.

“I was very happy with everything,” said Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito of Brave Victory, who will be ridden by Maragh in the Belmont, and Miner’s Escape, who will have Jose Lezcano up. “I wanted them to go even. They both went great, and they’re ready to go.”

Brave Victory, third in the Grade 2 Peter Pan here, and Miner’s Escape, winner of the Frederico Tesio on May 9 at Pimlico, represent the 21st and 22nd Belmont starters saddled by Zito, a two-time winner of the race including victories by Birdstone (2004) and Da’ Tara (2008).

Zito said there remained a slight possibility My Meadowview Farm’s Nowhere to Hide, 17th in the Kentucky Derby in his last start, would mark the trainer’s 23rd starter in the Belmont.

“He’s up at Saratoga,” said Zito. “He’ll work either Sunday or Monday, but right now, I’m leaning against it.”

Desormeaux said he was delighted with the way Summer Bird, like Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird a son of Birdstone, went Saturday morning.

“He breezed brilliantly,” said Desormeaux, who is 0-for-6 in the Belmont. “I think what impressed me the most about Summer Bird was his energy level. He came off the track happier than he went out, which is a great indication of a healthy, happy horse, as well as a fast one.”

Although he was aboard Summer Bird for the first time, Desormeaux and fellow Louisianan Tim Ice, the colt’s trainer, go back a long way.

“This is a little closer to home than most people realize,” said Desormeaux. “For me, this is a house horse! Tim worked shoulder-to-shoulder with my brother (trainer Keith Desormeaux) and I am thrilled to have the mount for him. It would be a real family occasion.”

DUNKIRK TO WORK SUNDAY

Dunkirk, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, will work Sunday at Belmont Park, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. Jockey John Velazquez will be aboard for the work and the race. As well, Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren’s Charitable Man, who won the Grade 2 Peter Pan here for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, also had his work moved back to Sunday. Alan Garcia, winner of last year’s Belmont aboard Da’ Tara, will have the mount Saturday.

CHOCOLATE CANDY MAY BLOW OUT MONDAY OR TUESDAY

The other Belmont contender on the grounds, fifth-place Derby finisher Chocolate Candy, is scheduled to blow out either Monday or Tuesday, said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Garrett Gomez has the mount for the Belmont.

LUKAS PAIR TO ARRIVE AT BELMONT SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Robert C. Baker and William Mack’s Flying Private and Marylou Whitney Stable’s Luv Gov will arrive at Belmont Park by van around 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

“They won’t do much during the week, maybe stretch their legs through the stretch,” said Lukas, a four-time Belmont winner who will be saddling his first starter since 2005. “They’ve had all their works.”

Lukas confirmed that Julian Leparoux will be aboard Flying Private, who was fourth in the Preakness. Miguel Mena has the mount on Luv Gov, 8th in the Preakness.

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerta Equine’s Mine That Bird, who will be ridden by Calvin Borel, and WinStar Farm’s Mr. Hot Stuff, who will have Hall of Famer Edgar Prado up, are scheduled to arrive Wednesday from Churchill Downs.