Trainer Joe Orseno is denying a published report that he has decided to run Red Bullet in the June 10 Belmont Stakes. Orseno reiterated yesterday that his Preakness winner is still "50-50" to make the final leg of the Triple Crown.

The Associated Press reported late Tuesday that Red Bullet would start in the final leg of the Triple Crown based on an interview with NYRA President Terry Meyocks. Meyocks told the AP that he had met with Orseno on the Belmont backstretch and that "he was planning to run." Meyocks stood by his statement yesterday.

Meanwhile, Orseno is denying he has made up his mind one way or the other.

"There's no way I said that," Orseno said. "I have never confirmed to anybody that this horse is running in the Belmont. I wish I could get this cleared up. I don't want (owner) Frank Stronach thinking that I said we're definitely running when that's not the case. I don't want him thinking we told the press something before even consulting with him."

"It's their perogative to run the horse or not," Meyocks said. "But (Racing Secretary) Mike Lakow told us he told the same thing to (stakes coordinator) Andrew Byrnes, that he was running the horse. I don't want to get anybody into trouble, it is their perogative to run or not, but we've been told he's running."

Orseno and Stronach have said publicly that they will not make a decision concerning the Belmont until they have had proper time to evaluate the Red Bullet's condition. Orseno said that he will not run the colt in the Belmont unless he is in "perfect" condition for the race. He added, though, that so far, all signs have been positive.

"I would think we'll have a decision by Sunday," Orseno said. "By then we'll have had the tack back on him and he'll have had a chance to do something in the morning."

With Fusaichi Pegasus' Triple Crown bid thwarted in the Preakness, NYRA executives are hopeful that they'll have a Red Bullet-Fusaichi Pegasus rematch to sell. All 32,000 seats in the grandstand and clubhouse have sold out and, according to Meyocks, there were no calls seeking refunds after Fusaichi Pegasus lost the Preakness.