"I was glad it happened," trainer David Hofmans said of the unplanned work in company. "He got a lot of dirt in his face and he ran through it. The best part of the work was that he was finishing down the lane and he galloped out strong. I didn't care about the time. I just wanted him to get around that turn and I wanted him finishing well. This is about the way he always works. He looks like he needed the work because he was blowing pretty good."Sacred Light's sole victory in seven starts came via the disqualification of the first-place finisher in a maiden special at Del Mar last August. The Amerman Racing Stables homebred ran second in the Santa Catalina (gr. II) and was third to Belmont contender Bob and John in the Sham Stakes (gr. III).Trained by Richard Violette for owner West Point Stable, High Finance broke his maiden at Keeneland on April 15 in his fourth career start. The son of Talk Is Money followed with a five-length romp in allowance company at a mile over Belmont Park's main track.
Three candidates for Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) had their final workouts Tuesday, with Deputy Glitters and Sacred Light working over the main track at Belmont Park and High Finance in action at Aqueduct.Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) winner Deputy Glitters, went five furlongs in :59 4/5, sixth fastest time of the day among 47 working that distance, while California-based Sacred Light was timed in 1:16 2/5 for six furlongs, slowest of six workers at that distance. High Finance's time of 1:13 3/5 for six furlongs was the best for three horses working that distance at Aqueduct.With trainer Tom Albertrani back on the scene on the first day since sitting out a 15-day suspension, Deputy Glitters went to the track under exercise rider Simon Harris shortly after the track reopened following the maintenance break.Albertrani said the workout by the son of Deputy Commander was just what he wanted as he timed the colt in "12s" for each eighth of a mile of the work. "That is what you like to see going into a race like the Belmont," Albertrani said.The work was initially scheduled for Wednesday but Albertrani moved it up since there is an 80% chance of rain in the New York area Wednesday.A homebred for Joseph Lacombe Stables, Deputy Glitters has won two of eight starts while earning $205,548. In his most recent effort he finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).Sacred light, meanwhile, was originally scheduled to work at 7:30 under jockey Jose Espinoza. Plans changed for the son of Holy Bull as farrier Ray Amato, Jr., was called in to replace a shoe damaged when Sacred Light kicked a wall in his stall Monday.After Amato completely re-shod the colt, he went to the track at 8:30, with exercise rider Martin DeRubin aboard. During the breeze, two other horses hooked up with Sacred Light, who completed his work while on the inside of the track closest to the rail.
