BELMONT NOTES

All spring, racetrackers at Belmont Park have been reading about the rigorous two-a-day training regimen that trainer Tim Ritchey has laid out for Afleet Alex, the heavy favorite for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes coming off his heroic victory in the Preakness.

Yesterday morning, they got to witness it first-hand.

After jogging Afleet Alex a mile and a half at 6:15, Ritchey sent him out again at 8:45. Despite the blistering heat, Afleet Alex galloped another three miles, going the last mile at a stiff two-minute lick. That’s a total of 4 ½ miles, three times the distance he’ll race in the “Test of the Champion.”

“The heat’s always a concern, but he’s never been a horse that the heat bothered,” said Ritchey, who was sweating more than his colt when the exercise was done. “He ran in the summer months at Delaware and Saratoga. As long as he drinks enough fluids, I don’t see the heat being a problem.”

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Over the deep Oklahoma training track at Saratoga yesterday, Chekhov, fourth in the Peter Pan last out, worked a snappy five furlongs in 1:01.4 for trainer Patrick Biancone.

“He increased his speed as he worked,” Biancone said. “After all, you know he is going a mile-and-a- half.”

Biancone said he planned to ship Chekhov to Belmont on Saturday morning, apparently not yet aware that all Belmont horses must be on the grounds by noon Friday.

Reverberate, second in the Peter Pan, and Nolan’s Cat, still a maiden after five starts, were confirmed as Belmont starters yesterday. It also appears that Watchmon, a winner of one race in six starts, is definite provided he works well this morning.