Donald Adam’s Prime Cut, whose connections are considering running him in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 11, worked five furlongs in 1:03 3/5 May 31 at Churchill Downs.
Exercise rider Dane Noel was in the saddle for trainer Neil Howard as the 3-year-old son of Bernstein posted fractions of :13 2/5, :26, and :38 1/5. The bay colt galloped out six furlongs in 1:16 2/5.
“Everything went good,” Howard said. “I was just looking to go just a nice five-eighths – not too fast, not too slow. I thought he went well, finished good ,and galloped out strong. He’s been running – he’s just come off the Peter Pan (gr. II) – so he’s a pretty fit horse.”
Howard said Prime Cut remains in the Belmont Stakes picture, but a final decision is pending.
“He’s a possibility,” Howard said. “We’re still going to take another couple of days before we make a decision.”
Prime Cut finished third in his most recent start behind Alternation in Belmont’s Peter Pan (gr. II) May 14 and was the runner-up to Derby Kitten in the Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) prior to that. His lone win in five races this year was a victory over the highly-regarded Bind in an allowance race at Fair Grounds.
Prime Cut’s career record stands at 2-2-2 in seven races. He has earned $123,685. Bred in Kentucky by Stuart McPhee, the colt is out of the Stravinsky mare Life Happened.
