Frankel Says His Colt Will Run

Trainer Bobby Frankel, who had been undecided about Medaglia d’Oro running in next Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, said Saturday after a five-furlong workout that the colt will be entered in the Triple Crown finale.

Richard Migliore, who rode Medaglia d’Oro at Belmont Park as he finished the work in 1:002/5, is committed to Magic Weisner, the Preakness runner-up, in the Belmont. Frankel suggested that he might hire either Kent Desormeaux or Pat Valenzuela to ride in the Belmont.

As the second choice in the Kentucky Derby, Medaglia d’Oro was bumped leaving the gate and lost his chance at a forward position. After finishing fourth, he went off the second choice in the Preakness and finished a non-contending eighth.

If 13 horses start in the 134th Belmont, it will be the biggest field since Editor’s Note beat 13 rivals in 1996. Besides War Emblem and Medaglia d’Oro, others expected to run Saturday are Artax Too, Essence Of Dubai, Like A Hero, Magic Weisner, Perfect Drift, Proud Citizen, Puzzlement, Sarava, Sunday Break, Tracemark and Wiseman’s Ferry.

Perfect Drift worked five furlongs Saturday in 1:001/5 at a training center near Churchill Downs. The gelding will join War Emblem and Proud Citizen on a plane from Louisville Wednesday that will take the horses to New York. War Emblem, who galloped 11/2 miles here Saturday, is scheduled for a three-furlong workout at Churchill on Tuesday.