NEW YORK -- With strong winds and heavy rain in the forecast, about two dozen Breeders' Cup horses managed to squeeze in a workout Monday at Belmont Park.
Travers winner Flower Alley was among them, breezing five furlongs in :58 4/5 in a final tuneup for Saturday's $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
"I think there was something like $250 million worth of horses all out there working," Flower Alley trainer Todd Pletcher said. "We're all backed up trying to get in before the weather (today)."
The main track was packed down following the workouts, and few, if any, horses were expected to work today.
"We're expecting a lot of rain and it should be windy," track superintendent John Passero said. "Right now, we're pounding down the dirt. If we keep it good and tight, we'll be all right when it passes."
As for the turf courses, heavy rain will soften the grass and make it tougher to handle for many horses.
"It's real good right now, and if the storm is out of here by Wednesday it will be fine for Saturday," Passero said. "We will try to keep it firm. It will have some give. You only get a hard course when the weather is hot and dry."
Shakespeare, unbeaten in five career starts, worked five furlongs on the grass in 1:03 4/5 in preparation for the $2 million Turf.
"He handled the ground well and finished nicely," trainer Bill Mott said.
Other horses pre-entered for the Classic who worked at Belmont included Borrego and Sun King. Saint Liam, the Woodward winner and expected favorite, put in his final five-furlong breeze (1:01 3/5) at nearby Aqueduct.
"He did it effortlessly," trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said. "It's all good with him now."
The forecast called for rain last night, with more rain and heavy wind today and clearing Wednesday. The extended forecast for Saturday calls for sunny skies with high temperatures in the 50s.
"We'll have the ark built by midnight tonight," Passero said. "We're only letting horses on."
