Belmont Contender Il Miracolo Drills at Gulfstream

Alexandres' Il Miracolo breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park the morning of June 2 in his final tune-up for a scheduled start in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1). Trained by Antonio Sano, the 3-year-old son of Gun Runner was timed in a bullet 1:00.88 for the five furlongs. Il Miracolo is coming off a sharp front-running score at Gulfstream in a May 11 optional claiming allowance at a mile in his first start since finishing sixth in the Florida Derby (G1). Out of the graded stakes-placed Tapit mare Tapit's World, Sano believes the testing 1 1/2 miles will suit Il Miracolo. "The horse wants distance and is doing really good, so we'll try," Sano said. Il Miracolo sports a 2-3-0 record from 10 trips to the post. He was sixth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and fifth in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) earlier this year. Jockey Marcos Meneses, who rode a pair of winners on Friday's program at Gulfstream, will have the return mount aboard Il Miracolo Il Miracolo is scheduled to ship to Belmont Park on Saturday.