Empire Maker Works Tuesday, Peace Rules Out of Belmont

Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel said that Peace Rules, fourth in the Preakness (gr. I), appears fine after shipping back to New York. Peace Rules will not compete in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), but Frankel will have Derby runner-up Empire Maker fresh for the 1 ½-mile classic.

"The longer between races for me, the better it is," said Frankel, who skipped the Preakness with Empire Maker.

Empire Maker is scheduled to work Tuesday morning, according to Frankel.

"I thought Funny Cide ran very well, but I didn't think Peace Rules handled the track," Frankel said. "I saw his one bad race up at Saratoga was in the slop."

Despite Peace Rules' disappointing Preakness finish, the day was not a total loss for Frankel. At Belmont, Wild Spirit was an impressive 3 ½-length winner of the Shuvee at odds of 10-1. It was the Chilean's first start in North America.