Maryland Trainer Graham Motion said Tuesday that his horse, Turf Melody, will likely skip the Preakness and point instead for the Belmont Stakes.
"I'd say right now, I'm leaning toward running in the Dwyer [Stakes] on Saturday at Belmont," Motion said. "The reason being, [the Dwyer] is not an easy race, but you're not running against the upper echelon. And it gives us a chance to see how he handles the Belmont track."
Motion said a favorable outing in the Dwyer could launch a run at the Belmont on June 5. But he said he had his eye on the fluid Preakness field that may or may not have a number of horses from the Kentucky Derby.
"If some Derby horses are leaning other directions, not going to Pimlico, it might open the door," said Motion, who runs Herringswell Stables at Fair Hill.