Sunday Break Breezes Seven Furlongs; Peter Pan Next

Sunday Break, who failed to make it into the Kentucky Derby due to insufficient graded earnings, breezed seven furlongs in 1:28 at Belmont Park Saturday.

Although the time was on the slow side, Drysdale was satisfied with the work. "He worked a little bit slow because the track was a little deep," trainer Neil Drysdale said. "The work was pleasing. He did things very easily."

Sunday Break had been under consideration for Saturday's Preakness, but Pimlico officials reported Monday that Drysdale confirmed the colt is scheduled to make his next start in the June 8 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park.

"I think he's continued to improve. He may have had an impact in the Derby because he does have tactical speed and he can also accelerate."

Drysdale said that Astarita and Comely winner Bella Bellucci will continue to jog for a few days before her training picks up. She is being pointed for the Grade 1 Acorn at one mile on June 7.

Bob Baffert is thrilled with the way War Emblem has bounced out of the Derby. "He's awesome today," said Baffert. "He's back. It took him a week, but he's back. Yesterday he was very relaxed out there and he was quiet. We did some dental work on him, so that might have helped a little. Man, he looks good; his weight looks good. The thing about it is, like other good horses, he eats really well."

Nick Zito, who will be in New york over the weekend before heading back down to Pimlico on Monday, said his two Preakness candidates, Crimson Hero and Straight Gin, are doing well, and he'll likely work one on Monday and one on Tuesday. Recent arrival, Equality, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, will work Sunday or Monday depending on the weather, trainer Graham Motion said.

Medaglia d'Oro, fourth in the Kentucky Derby following a rough trip, galloped a mile and a quarter Saturday morning. The son of El Prado likely will work Wednesday or Thursday at Belmont, then van down to Baltimore early Saturday morning.

Looking past the Preakness, some of the fresher horses who may show up for the mile and a half Belmont Stakes are Kentucky Derby starters Perfect Drift and Essence of Dubai; Windward Passage, who runs in Saturday's Lone Star Derby; Azillion, who currently is in training at Hollywood Park and is scheduled to work Sunday; and Peter Pan probables Table Limit, from the D. Wayne Lukas stable; and the Allen Jerkens-trained Puzzlement, winner of his last two starts.