Creative Minister posts final breeze for G1 Belmont Stakes
At 0h01, on June 8, 2022 • By BELMONT PARK
Fern Circle Stables, Back Racing and Magdalena Racing’s Creative Minister had his final work on Monday in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The son of Creative Cause breezed an easy half-mile in 50.33 seconds over the fast main track at Belmont Park.
“It was something simple,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “We let him stretch his legs; he had a long gallop and he did everything right. He looked happy doing it.”
Creative Minister was guided through the exercise by Heman Harkie, who was also aboard for his half-mile breeze last week. The grey colt stood near the finish line for a few minutes before the breeze, surveying Big Sandy with his head up and ears forward as Harkie gave his neck a few strokes.
The pair then took off the wrong way around towards the top of the stretch so that Creative Minister could get a sense of Belmont’s looming grandstand and long home stretch. Creative Minister was taken to the backstretch to begin his work and NYRA clockers caught his first quarter-mile in 24 and 4/5 seconds. He travelled well to finish the work in 50.33 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04 flat.
