NEW YORK -- Patrick Valenzuela nearly won the Triple Crown with Sunday Silence, and now the rider hopes to derail Smarty Jones' bid in the Belmont Stakes on June 5.

Valenzuela expects to be aboard Rock Hard Ten, who finished a distant second to Smarty Jones in the Preakness. On Tuesday, the jockey climbed aboard Rock Hard Ten for the first time.

Even though the colt balked a few times before breezing a half-mile in 47 2/5 seconds at Belmont Park, Valenzuela believes he has a chance to upset Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.

"I feel I have a horse with the capability of winning the race and that's the attitude I'm going with," Valenzuela said.

Valenzuela, though, still has to be cleared to ride in New York. The jockey is facing a one-month suspension handed down by the California Horse Racing Board for missing a mandatory drug test. The suspension, which was reduced from four months, is to begin June 1. The rider is seeking a continuance until June 6.

Valenzuela rode Sunday Silence to victory in the 1989 Derby and Preakness before rival Easy Goer won the Belmont.

He said Rock Hard Ten might have "hindered" Smarty's chances if he had made the Derby field. "Hopefully, he'll hinder him in the Belmont," Valenzuela said. "I'm not here to run second."

Rock Hard Ten missed the Derby because of insufficient graded-stakes earnings.

Trainer Jason Orman said Rock Hard Ten would probably work again Monday, but this time another horse will breeze alongside "and keep him a little more focused.

"It's not something you like to see," he added, "but it's something we have to deal with."

Meanwhile, Smarty Jones had his morning gallop at Philadelphia Park, going 1 7/8 miles under exercise rider Pete van Trump.

"He had his neck bowed and was into it big time," trainer John Servis said. "He's just happy. He's going to be anxious to work on Friday."

Smarty Jones, bidding to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed in 1978, is scheduled for his one and only Belmont tuneup Friday before being shipped to New York next Wednesday -- three days before the Belmont.

"He's out to please, he'll give me whatever I ask him," Servis said. "I'm very confident. I'm really happy with where he is right now."