As the Oklahoma Training Track opened for business on Friday morning (read all about it in Saturday's edition of the Saratogian), there are also signs of life on the Belmont backside, as the NYRA circuit prepares to move on from Aqueduct.

Trainer Tim Ice arrived at Belmont this week with a string of seven horses he plans to campaign on the circuit this year. Ice took three of NYRA's biggest prizes - the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup - with eventual champion Summer Bird in his first full year of training last year. Despite losing Summer Bird to trainer Tim Ritchey because of an owners' decision, he arrived at Belmont as planned with his best stock, leaving the rest of his string at Louisiana Downs under the care of an assistant.

The powerful Godolphin Racing outfit is also setting in at Belmont. Stakes competitors Gayego, Regal Ransom, Desert Party, West Side Bernie and Atomic Rain have already arrived from wintering in Dubai. Stakes winners Sara Louise and Vineyard Haven will arrive Saturday from Kentucky.