Prepping for Saturday's race, Japanese raider Lani (Tapit) worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:01 2/5 over the Belmont main track, galloping out six furlongs in 1:15, according to track clockers.
Ninth to Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, the Koji Maeda homebred walked once around the 1 1/2-mile circumference of the track, then jogged up to the five-furlong pole to begin his work in earnest. He clocked his opening quarter-mile in a leisurely :26 flat and, although he failed to switch his leads in the lane, finished his final three panels in :35 2/5.
“He's not the best switching leads, but in the straight, it was ok,” said trainer Mikio Matsunaga, who arrived in New York Tuesday to oversee the drill. “We don't have a breeze partner. If he had one here, it would be best, but in this situation, I understand it's difficult to do that. Going by himself, this is the best we could have wanted.”
Lani, who is scheduled to travel by van to Pimlico Thursday, has reportedly settled down since the Derby and has not displayed the same cantankerous behavior he did in the days leading up to the Derby.
“He likes the barn and the track since arriving here, so the training is on plan,” said Matsunaga. “He's been better behaved since he's been here.”
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