Essence of Dubai, Sarava Work Toward Belmont Stakes

Godolphin Racing's Essence of Dubai, ninth in the Kentucky Derby in his last start, worked 5 furlongs in 1:03 4/5 at Belmont Park on Tuesday. The fractional splits were :26 4/5 and :40 1/5. The Pulpit colt galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:16 2/5, getting the final quarter-mile in :23 3/5 and the final eighth of a mile in :12 3/5.

Assistant trainer Tom Albertrani said the colt was clocked in :48 2/5 from the three-eighths pole to an eighth of a mile past the wire. "If (War Emblem) gets loose on the lead, he will be very tough again," Albertrani said of the Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner he will be attempting to upset with Essence of Dubai. "Everything is going good. We just hoped he would work well and he did. We're just hoping the distance will suit our horse."

Also working at Belmont Tuesday as Sarava, who was timed in :48 3/5 for a half mile, with jockey Heberto Castillo Jr. aboard.

"It was a good solid breeze," trainer Ken McPeek said. "He's never been one to fire bullets in the morning. If you work him in company, he'll go as fast as you want, but I decided to keep him by himself this morning."