ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s success in the Belmont Stakes has come primarily with horses who disappointed in the Kentucky Derby, but rebounded five weeks later to run well in the “Test of the Champion.” In addition to winning the Belmont with Derby also-rans Palace Malice and Tapwrit, he’s had strong runner-up finishes from the likes of Dunkirk, Destin, and Stay Thirsty. Pletcher is hoping for more of the same with Spinoff, who finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby but who will be given another shot at a classic in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 8. On Saturday, Spinoff put in a visually impressive workout for the Belmont, giving the impression that he could very well follow the trend of those who came before him. Spinoff, under John Velazquez, worked five furlongs in 59.78 seconds early Saturday morning over what has continued to be a fast Belmont main track. Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch clocked Spinoff’s first three furlongs in 35.21 seconds and then caught him galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.88 and seven furlongs in 1:24.35. “I thought the gallop-out was really impressive,” Pletcher said. “He seemed like he kept going and going and didn’t seem like he was fatigued when he came back to cool out.” Spinoff was one of four prospective Belmont Stakes horses who put in workouts at Belmont on a gorgeous spring morning on Long Island. The Pletcher-trained Intrepid Heart, third in the Peter Pan Stakes, went five furlongs in 1:01.31. Tax, who crossed the finish line 15th in the Kentucky Derby, went a half-mile in 49.87 seconds. Sir Winston, second in the Peter Pan, went five furlongs in 1:01.53. Spinoff earned his way into the Kentucky Derby with a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 23, finishing ahead of Country House (fourth) and War of Will (ninth). Those horses came back to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, respectively. :: MEMORIAL DAY SALE: Save 50% on Formulator PPs, DRF Plus access, and handicapping reports In the Kentucky Derby, run over a sloppy Churchill surface, Spinoff was only 4 1/2 lengths off the lead early, but when he was asked to run, he stayed in neutral under Manny Franco. “He kind of did what a lot of horses that don’t love it do. [He] was traveling okay when he was held up against the bridle, but when it came time to turn his head loose and ask him to go, Manny said he started spinning his wheels,” Pletcher said. Pletcher believes Spinoff, a son of Hard Spun, has the right galloping style to be effective in the Belmont at 1 1/2 miles. Pletcher has not confirmed a rider for Spinoff. Pletcher said he let Velazquez work both Spinoff and Intrepid Heart and will wait to hear back from Velazquez as to whom he wants to ride, though it is expected he will stay with Intrepid Heart. Intrepid Heart to add blinkers Velazquez was aboard Intrepid Heart for his five-furlong move, which was done in company with Outshine, a 3-year-old who could run in either the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes or the Easy Goer. Intrepid Heart’s work was also done in blinkers, equipment he has not worn in any of his three races but equipment he will wear in the Belmont Stakes. Intrepid Heart started just off the flank of Outshine but quickly caught up and the two finished on even terms. “Johnny seemed to think he was more focused without shying away from the other horse like he’s sometimes done, so I thought it was a positive move,” Pletcher said. Pletcher said Velazquez had felt blinkers might be necessary for Intrepid Heart even after he won his first two races. “Hard to make changes off two wins but even off the two wins, Johnny said he was not quite zeroed in and quite as focused as he could be,” Pletcher said. “We need to improve off the last performance. Main thing I wanted to make sure is it wouldn’t make him too headstrong going a mile and a half; didn’t seem to.” Palace Malice won the 2013 Belmont with Pletcher removing blinkers for that race. Tax, Sir Winston breeze Sir Winston, the Peter Pan runner-up, is not known as a good work horse, but he went a solid five furlongs in 1:01.53 under jockey Joel Rosario on Saturday morning. Sir Winston started about three lengths behind workmate Catch a Thrill, a 3-year-old turf filly, dropped farther back on the turn, but ultimately finished a length in front of that horse at the wire, as he got his final quarter in 23.62 seconds. “The work was kind of set up for him. We were happy with the way he did it,” said Jamie Begg, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “Mark didn’t want to set any track records or anything. He got to pass her at the wire, give him a little bit of a confidence builder.” Rosario will ride Sir Winston in the Belmont. Tax, who spent the winter in New York, winning the Withers and finishing second in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, worked a half-mile in 49.87 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. Tax, in his first work since the Derby, went an opening quarter in 25.25 seconds, his final quarter in 24.62, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.10. “I just wanted a nice little maintenance work. He galloped out great,” said trainer Danny Gargan, who noted that he would let the colt’s next work determine whether he runs in the Belmont. “He’s doing good. It’s the Belmont, you got to be doing awesome,” Gargan said. “If he works awesome [next week] I’m going to run.” – additional reporting by Mike Welsch