Guyana Star Dweej definite for Belmont

After watching Guyana Star Dweej put in a half-mile work on Belmont Park's

fast main track Monday morning, owner-trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal confirmed the

Eddington colt will make his next start in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

"Guyana Star is in the Belmont," Shivmangal said. "I was very pleased with

him yesterday morning, but I am more pleased today. We were able to beat the

weather, and he did what he needed to do. I think Guyana Star is back on the

straight path again."

Working in company with Grade 3 Pilgrim winner Shkspeare Shaliyah, Guyana

Star Dweej went a quarter-mile in :22 3/5 and a half in :49, galloping out five

furlongs in 1:02 1/5, according to NYRA clockers. Hall of Fame jockey Kent

Desormeaux was aboard for the work and will ride in the Belmont.

"Kent said he was very relaxed and went very easy," Shivmangal said. "Of all

the horses in the barn, he'll be the first one to clean his feed tub. He's a

nice horse. Nothing bothers him."

Desormeaux has ridden in the Belmont seven times, but not since winning with

Summer Bird in 2009. He has finished second twice, most notably with Real Quiet,

who was just denied the Triple Crown by a whisker in 1998. Desormeaux was also a

close second aboard Medaglia d'Oro in 2002.

Guyana Star Dweej was second to fellow Belmont contender Unstoppable U in a

one-mile optional claimer at Belmont Park on April 27 in his most recent start,

with jockey Eddie Castro aboard. Apprentice Samuel Camacho Jr. was up for the

previous three races, including his lone victory on April 7 at Aqueduct.

"Kent came by with his agent and they were asking about the horse,"

Shivmangal said. "We were debating who would ride him. My kids were thinking I

should bring Camacho back to ride. I told them I have nothing against him. He

won on the horse, but this is a big race, the toughest of the Triple Crown races

to win.

"I love to use the bug kids, because I know they try every time. I met with

my wife and kids and we decided to go with Kent. We felt it was the right

decision to have an experienced jockey who knows what it takes. We believe in

loyalty, but this is a big race and not a small race. You have to have somebody

who knows how to do it."

Shivmangal had been pointing to the May 19 Preakness for Guyana Star Dweej,

who was pulled from consideration with a left front leg injury three days before

the race.

In addition to Monday's work, Shivmangal was encouraged to run in the Belmont

by the way the horse galloped Sunday morning, also with Desormeaux up.

"After his gallop yesterday, I was very pleased," he said. "He is not a work

horse in the morning, but he can run. I know for a fact that he runs better than

he works. In a Triple Crown race, anything can happen. The first three or four

horses are the high contenders, and after that the rest of them are mediocre

horses."

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