SARATOGA RACE COURSE Weather: Clear Temperature: 48° Track: Fast SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A crisp but picture perfect morning greeted horses and horsemen alike here Saturday for the busiest day in the lead up to the historic 2024 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Seven likely starters for this year’s 1 1/4-mile Belmont turned in their final major preps for the event locally, six of those works coming throughout the course of the morning over the Oklahoma training surface, the other on what has been a much quicker main track minutes after the renovation break. Anyone looking for one or more of these final works to perhaps tip the needle when it comes to handicapping the big event, as has happened so often prior to past renewals of the race, probably came away a little disappointed following all that activity. The majority, if not all this morning’s drills, being pretty much maintenance like in design. As usual, trainer Kenny McPeek wasted little time sending out both Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna and Kentucky Derby hero Mystik Dan, the former starting the morning still listed as a “possible” Belmont starter before, not surprisingly, being entered several hours later to compete instead in Friday’s Grade 1 Acorn.   Both Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan turned in similar works, going in company in separate sets over an Oklahoma training surface that seemed a bit on the dull side Saturday, especially before the first of the morning’s two renovation breaks.  Thorpedo Anna breezed five furlongs, with an opening split of 37.18, in 1:02.90 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.72 outside Midnight Concerto, dropping several lengths off her mate during the early stages but sticking her head in front at the wire. Mystik Dan completed the same distance with an opening split of 36.76 and a final time in 1:01.44, readily edging clear from his mate Gould’s Gold to and through the wire, increasing his advantage galloping out six furlongs in 1:16.45. Neither Thorpedo Anna nor Mystik Dan were asked for their best at any point, both put through their paces by veteran exercise rider Danny Ramsey. :: Bet the Belmont Stakes with confidence! Join DRF Bets and get a $200 deposit match bonus and FREE DRF Past Performances! The bulk of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes activity took place in the first six or seven minutes after the break, with the track perhaps a touch livelier but still not overly fast following the harrows. In fact, the harrows were barely off the track when Dornoch and his mate began their drill, posting a relatively quick opening quarter split in 23.38 before being geared down some to complete a half in 48.48. Dornoch, well in hand to the wire, galloped out five furlongs slightly best in 1:02.38 inside regular work partner Ramblin’ Wreck. Trainer Todd Pletcher’s Belmont bound duo, for owner Mike Repole, of Protective and Mindframe were next, breezing an easy opening quarter-mile in 25.48 and a half in 49.92. Mindframe asserted his superiority on the gallop-out, moving away readily after six furlongs in 1:15.17, easing up far in front covering seven furlongs in 1:28.51, a solid clocking under the conditions. The extremely talented but relatively inexperienced Mindframe was similarly impressive the previous week when getting the better of reigning 2023 Juvenile champion, and above average work horse Fierceness, on the gallop-out.   Likely Belmont favorite Sierra Leone and his now regular work partner Domestic Product were not far behind the Pletcher pair, also cruising through a relatively easy half in splits of 25.12 and 49.44, before being urged a tad to gallop-out into and around the turn. The classy team completing five furlongs in 1:02.87, then up three-quarters in 1:15.47, with the Derby runner-up holding a slight edge, while again equipped in blinkers and kept nearest the rail. It was nearly another two hours before Antiquarian became the morning’s final Belmont Stakes worker on the training track, breezing an easy half-mile of his own in splits of 24.52 and 49.53, going outside 3-year-old maiden winner Be You. The Peter Pan winner held a slight edge, while galloping out with excellent energy under some light prodding, going five furlongs in 1:02.41, six furlongs up in 1:14.58. Trainer Chad Brown mixed things up a bit by opting to work his second Belmont starter, Tuscan Gold, over the main track. Adding blinkers to the equation for a very easy half-mile in splits of 24.18 and 48.43, while working inside the unraced Clever Mischief. Tuscan Gold came off the rail a bit into the clubhouse turn while in the midst of galloping out in willing fashion, easing up after six furlongs in 1:14.44.            :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.