Resilience is possible for Belmont Stakes pending weekend work

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said Friday morning that Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner Resilience is possible to make his next start in the $2 million Belmont Stakes next Saturday at Saratoga depending on how he works this weekend.

Mott said he will make a final decision after Resilience works this weekend at Saratoga.

Owned by Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman, the Into Mischief colt made the grade with a 2 1/4-length score over Society Man in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial to earn his way into the Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

“We’ve got some discussions to have with the owners but we’re giving it strong consideration,” Mott said. “We’re going to work on the weekend and once he breezes we’ll know what we’re going to do.”

Resilience exited post 18 of 20 in the Derby and pounced from 5 1/4 lengths off the pace to be a half-length off the lead at the three-quarters call, but faded in the stretch and was defeated by 7 3/4 lengths by the victorious Mystik Dan.

Mott said he was pleased with the way Resilience worked back on Monday over the Oklahoma training track, going a half-mile in 50.45 seconds.

“We’re considering running, so he’s doing good. He’s doing real well,” Mott said.

Bred in Kentucky by Pam Wygod and the late Marty Wygod, Resilience is out of the winning Smart Strike mare Meadowsweet, who is a half-sister to the Grade 1 and multiple graded stakes-winning Storm Cat turfers Courageous Cat and After Market. All three are out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Rahy mare Tranquility Lake. Jalil, a Group 2-winner on dirt, is also by Storm Cat and out of Tranquility Lake.