Preakness Stakes (G1) third-place finisher Chip Honcho and Kentucky Derby (G1) 12th-place finisher Potente will not race in the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course, their respective Hall of Fame trainers told Daily Racing Form's David Grening May 27.
Steve Asmussen told DRF that the Belmont is "too soon off a hard race" in reference to the May 16 Preakness for Chip Honcho. The son of Connect owned by Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia had a busy winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots leading up to the Triple Crown, competing in all four Kentucky Derby point races and emerging with a victory in the Gun Runner Stakes and runner-up effort in the Risen Star Stakes (G2). Despite having the points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, Asmussen decided to skip the Run for the Roses. He did not mention any race targets for Chip Honcho, who shipped to Saratoga following the Preakness.
Bob Baffert did mention a target for Speedway Stables' Potente, saying he would remain at Churchill Downs and race June 7 in the $500,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3).
"He's lightly raced, rushed him into the Derby a little bit," Baffert told Grening about the San Felipe Stakes (G2) winner and Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up. "Sometimes you got to hit the reset button once the Derby is over."
Grening also reported jockey assignments for the Belmont: John Velazquez on Commandment, Luis Saez on Powershift, and Dylan Davis on Ottinho.
