Large field shaping up for Belmont

In the absence of Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Super Saver (Maria's Mon)

and Preakness S. (G1) victor Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike), a large

field of contenders is beginning to take shape for the June 5 Belmont S.

(G1), the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

Among those who have already run in a Triple Crown race, Derby

runner-up ICE BOX (Pulpit), fourth-place finisher MAKE MUSIC FOR ME

(Bernstein) and eighth-place finisher STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper) are

all aiming for the Belmont, along with Preakness near-misser FIRST DUDE

(Stephen Got Even).

The Wayne Lukas-trained DUBLIN (Afleet Alex), who was seventh in the

Derby and fifth after costing himself dearly at the start in Saturday's

Preakness, is listed as possible for the Belmont.

As of Sunday, Dublin figured to be the only horse who might indeed contest

all three legs of the 2010 Triple Crown.

Blue Grass S. (G1) winner Stately Victor earned a bullet for his 1:00 1/5

five-furlong breeze at Trackside Louisville on Saturday, his first published

workout since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

"He had a little bit of trouble, but it wasn't too bad," trainer Mike Maker

said of Stately Victor's trip in the Derby.

"He had a clean trip (in the Blue Grass) and a bigger track he could race on

as he had been racing on the turf course at Gulfstream Park," Maker added. "He's

a big, imposing horse with a long stride, and hopefully he can get into a rhythm

in the Belmont S."

Uptowncharlybrown, a new addition to the barn of Kiaran McLaughlin, worked a

half-mile in :47.82 at Belmont on Saturday. The chestnut took his spin in

company with another promising McLaughlin three-year-old, Trappe Shot (Tapit).

"Very nice," McLaughlin said of Uptowncharlybrown. "He's a nice mover with a

big stride. We're on course for the Belmont."

Trainer Steve Margolis said that the Louisville, Kentucky-based Klein family

is, at this point, pointing Stay Put toward the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

"We've been talking about it over the last week or 10 days," Margolis said.

"As long has he stays healthy and well, he's got two more breezes and we're

gonna go."

Stay Put was most recently an allowance victor in the slop on the Kentucky

Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.

"There'll be some tough horses in there in Ice Box, Fly Down and Drosselmeyer,"

Margolis said of the Belmont. "But we're running good, and as long as we stay

healthy and good and are training good, we've got to take a shot.

"We're still deciding when to ship, and if we'll fly or van up. Rich

(co-owner Richard Bertram) and I definitely want to set it up so he has a work

over the Belmont track, but he's doing well and we're going to take a shot."