Ruben Loza washes Empire Maker at his barn at Belmont Park following his May 31 workout.
With jockey Aaron Gryder aboard, Kentucky Derby runner-up Empire Maker went to the track at about 6 a.m. and breezed six furlongs in 1:13, much to the satisfaction of trainer Bobby Frankel. The fractional splits for the Unbridled colt were :25, :38 1/5, and 1:01 1/5 as the colt galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27."This was exactly what I was looking for," Frankel said. "If the other horse beats us, he beats us. But this horse is coming up to the race perfectly. He needed this work really badly and got just what he needed. He was really striding out and galloped out strong. There was a little bit of moisture in the track and it was playing a little slower."Another Frankel-trained 3-year-old was on the track Saturday, with Midas Eyes working six furlongs in 1:12 4/5, with jockey Jerry Bailey aboard. Midas Eyes, who is being pointed toward the Riva Ridge Stakes, was timed in 1:00 for the first five-eighths of a mile in the workout.Dynever was on the track at about 8:50 a.m., following the track maintenance break, and officially worked a half-mile in :48 2/5. After fractional splits of :12 2/5 and :24 1/5, he galloped out five furlongs in a strong 1:00 4/5, in what was essentially a five-furlong work. He pulled up six furlongs in 1:14 2/5. Part-owner Peter Karches was on hand to observe the work.Echoing Frankel's observation about his colt's work, trainer Christophe Clement said the breeze by the son of Dynaformer was "exactly what we were looking for. This is the way he works. I always work my horses a half-mile and have them gallop out a strong five or six furlongs."The only work scheduled for Sunday is by Sir Barton Stakes winner Best Minister, with trainer Ken McPeek flying to New York from Kentucky to observe the exercise. Best Minister is being supplemented to the Belmont at a cost of $100,000.
