Workout question - Bernardini

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I hope you guys can help me - sorry if this sounds like a stupid question.

Not that it hasn't been obvious, but I'm a HUGE Bernardini fan and I'm anxiously awaiting his return in the Jim Dandy. I see he worked today in a very slow 1:03 and change (breezing). It seems to me that his works since the Preakness have been exceedingly slow - perhaps by design since the Jim Dandy isn't until sometime in the middle/end of July. I don't know anything about workouts and how they are used to prep for a race, so pardon me for asking this: should I be concerned? My initial thought is that Tom Albetrani obviously doesn't want any speed from his colt right now and will ask that of him in the coming weeks. I hope this is the case; I'm very confident in Bernardini, but perhaps the Preakness has taken more out of him than we thought? As good as he is (and he's always been a good workhorse), shouldn't he be going faster than 1:03, even breezing?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Betsy,
I also like Bernardini a lot. That said, I wouldn't worry too much about the works. Many times, they are used just to keep a horse in shape. Slow times mean nothing. Works have a bit more meaning when a horse is run in company. It's also useful to look at inside splits, not the entire distance of the published work. A breeze is only that.
The final furlong time might say a lot more.
Anyway, I wouldn't worry about slow times in works.
Just my two pennies, for what they're worth.
DTS