ELMONT, N.Y. – When it comes to the 154th Belmont Stakes on June 11, the connections of the filly Nest are letting her try to sell them on the idea of running. Friday, after the fog had lifted at Belmont Park, Nest took another step toward making that decision a little clearer with the way she went in a stamina-building workout alongside stablemate and possible Belmont Stakes favorite Mo Donegal. The pair went five furlongs in 1:03.18, according to Daily Racing Form, with a final quarter of 25.15 seconds over the Belmont main track. While the time won’t wow anyone, it was the gallop-out after the wire that impressed Todd Pletcher, the trainer of both horses and a three-time Belmont Stakes winner. Nest, on the inside, and Mo Donegal went out six furlongs in 1:16.21, seven furlongs in 1:28.68 and a mile in 1:41.53. :: Bet the Belmont Stakes with confidence! Join DRF Bets and get a $250 deposit match bonus, $10 free bet, and access to FREE DRF Formulator! Jose Ortiz, who won the Preakness aboard Early Voting, was aboard Nest for the work and would likely ride her in the Belmont, Pletcher said. Irad Ortiz Jr., who is the regular rider of both Mo Donegal and Nest, was aboard Mo Donegal, whom he will ride in the Belmont. “What I particularly liked was the three-eighths after the finish line,” Pletcher said. “When I told them on the radio to let them go ahead and let them go out another eighth, both riders said both horses jumped up underneath them and showed they still had something left in the tank, so I was happy.” Mo Donegal’s participation in the Belmont is a no-brainer. In April, he won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial – beating subsequent Preakness winner Early Voting – and was a creditable fifth with a wide trip in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher-trained colts Palace Malice (2013) and Tapwrit (2017) both won the Belmont after running in the Derby and skipping the Preakness. Pletcher’s first Belmont victory came in 2007 with the filly Rags to Riches, who dominated that year’s Kentucky Oaks. The decision to run Nest is not clear-cut. Yes, she won the Grade 1 Ashland, but she finished second in the Kentucky Oaks behind Secret Oath, who ran fourth in the Preakness. As a daughter of Curlin – second to Rags to Riches in the Belmont – and with Belmont winners A.P. Indy and Seattle Slew in her pedigree, Nest certainly has the breeding for the 1 1/2-mile race. “Pedigree-wise it’s a no-brainer,” Pletcher said. Last year, Pletcher had considered running Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat in the Belmont. But she lost a little bit of weight coming out of the Oaks and was given more time. “With this filly she hasn’t done anything to discourage me from continuing to think about it,” said Pletcher, who trains Nest for Mike Repole, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House. “So, I’ll get together with the connections later, and we’ve all been on the same page as far as let’s let her sell us on the idea of running.” We the People sharp in breeze About 45 minutes before Mo Donegal and Nest worked, We the People, the 10 1/4-length winner of the Peter Pan here on May 14, worked a half-mile in 48.47 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset was aboard We the People, who worked about 15 minutes before the mid-morning renovation break, meaning the track had been somewhat chewed up. :: Get ready for the Belmont Stakes with DRF Past performances, picks, clocker reports, and betting strategies! That didn’t matter to this son of Constitution who, after a strong run-up after leaving an accompanying pony at the five-furlong pole, went an opening quarter in 23.97 seconds and a final quarter in 24.50 seconds with Brisset barely moving a muscle. We the People galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.97 and six furlongs in 1:15.94. “He’s a very good work horse,” Brisset said afterward. “We try to keep him between 48 and 49. I’m pretty heavy, too. Anything like 48 and change, 1:01 and change is good. I never asked him for anything. He’s got such a high-cruising speed. That’s the usual kind of work we see with him.” We the People, a son of Constitution, is 3 for 4. We the People won the Grade 3 Peter Pan in front-running fashion over a sealed track listed as good. He has remained in New York since then. Kuchar is only 50-50 to run in the race, Brisset, his trainer, said Friday. Brisset is leaning toward running Kuchar in the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 25. Western River, who finished fourth in the Peter Pan for Brisset, was removed from consideration for the Belmont in lieu of an allowance race at Churchill Downs next month. Meanwhile, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike was scheduled to work at Churchill Downs on Monday before shipping to Belmont Park on Tuesday. Others under consideration for the Belmont as of Friday are Creative Minister and Skippylongstocking, third and fifth in the Preakness; Peter Pan runner-up Golden Glider; Kentucky Derby sixth-place finisher Barber Road; and Sir Barton Stakes winner Ethereal Road. On Friday, trainer Dale Romans told Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee that Howling Time, a five-length winner of a May 21 allowance at Churchill, is possible for the Belmont as well as the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. – additional reporting by Marty McGee 154th Belmont Stakes, Grade 1, $1.5 million, 1 1/2 miles, June 11 Horse Trainer Jockey Last Race Barber Road John Ortiz Reylu Gutierrez Ky Derby, 6th Creative Minister Kenny McPeek Brian Hernandez Jr. Preakness, 3rd Ethereal Road   D. Wayne Lukas  Luis Saez  Sir Barton, 1st Golden Glider Mark Casse Dylan Davis Peter Pan, 2nd Howling Time Dale Romans Joe Talamo CD OC, 1st Kuchar Rodolphe Brisset Florent Geroux CD alw, 1st Mo Donegal Todd Pletcher Irad Ortiz Jr. Ky Derby, 5th Nest     Todd Pletcher undecided   Ky Oaks, 2nd Rich Strike Eric Reed Sonny Leon Ky Derby, 1st Skippylongstocking Saffie Joseph Jr. Junior Alvarado Preakness, 5th We the People Rodolphe Brisset  Flavien Prat  Peter Pan, 1st