Giacomo, the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner, breezed six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 Sunday morning on the fast track at Hollywood Park in his last serious work for Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I).The work under exercise rider Sabina Siebel was eighth fastest of 11 recorded at the distance."He went out there with his regular workmate, Bullistic, and he did what we wanted," said trainer John Shirreffs. "He targeted that horse and went right by. The work went very well."Bullistic was clocked in 1:15 2/5. Giacomo is expected to arrive at Belmont Park on Wednesday afternoon. Shirreffs is expected to arrive on Tuesday afternoon, and will be at the post position draw on Wednesday morning in the fourth floor clubhouse. Southern Africa, winner of the Lone Star Derby last month, had his final pre-Belmont Stakes workout Sunday morning at Arlington Park, breezing six furlongs in 1:13. The son of Cape Town is expected to arrive in New York on Wednesday on an airline flight departing from Louisville, Ky.
"He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 and we're ready to roll," trainer Michael Puhich said. "He's going to van to Louisville and fly out of there."Southern Africa has won four of nine starts and a little more than $400,000. Although he took the low road to the Belmont Stakes, running in a pair of stakes at Sunland Park and the Lone Star Derby, Southern Africa kept good company last autumn. He finished fourth to eventual 2-year-old champion Declan's Moon in a pair of stakes races at Hollywood Park. "Now's the time to step back up and take a shot in a race like the Belmont," Puhich said. "I'm real confident."Other likely Belmont Stakes contenders are Afleet Alex, Andromeda's Hero, A.P. Arrow, Chekhov, Indy Storm, Nolan's Cat, Pinpoint, Reverberate, and Watchmon.
