A range of possible starters for HOLD Runhappy Travers S. in Saratoga recorded works at Spa Saturday as they each turned their attention to the 1 1/4 mile history test for sophomores on Aug.
Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher watched GIII winner Dwyer S. on the run and ‘TDN Rising Star ‘Charge It (Tapit) soars through the “wonderful” five-layer wind on the main track, completing the solo exercise in 1:01.01 (5/27).
“Superman. Loved the way he did it, great moves and really powerful gallop on a track that wasn’t really fast,” said Pletcher.
“I don’t think he’s going to win at 23,” Pletcher said with a laugh. “[But] I think he’s very confident and he’s doing well. Mentally, he’s made great strides, so he’s a horse that I think has continued to grow and get better and better. This morning’s work is another sign of that. “
Also on the tab for Pletcher is GI Alabama S. probable Nest (Curlin), whom Pletcher considered for Travers but ultimately said Alabama on August 20 was a more likely target. Double I winner and GI runner-up Belmont S. crossed the half mile with: 50.60 (71/86) accompanied by Saratoga’s first winner Up to the Mark (Not this time) (: 50.02; 53/86).
“I think she did a great job. [She] Pletcher said the beginning was a bit easy and picked it up at the end and galloped very well. “She seems to be keeping her form. We talked about it [the Travers], but we felt as long as she was ready to run again in Alabama, a mile and a half was perfect for her. We felt that it was too good a position to pass.”
Chad Brown walks past some Runhappy Travers Day hopes on Saturday main track led by GISW Zandon (Start up), who crossed the half-mile in: 49.77 (44/86), while GI Preakness winner S. Vote early (Gunman) achieved half a mile: 49.78 (47/86) in company with GII Amsterdam S. runner-up Exactly (Realistic jokes), who is targeting the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. Runhappy Trading candidate and Curlin S. winner ‘TDN Rising Star’ Artorius walked alone half an easy mile with: 50.09 (56/86).
“It went great. All works well. Zandon was ahead and he was half a mile in: 49 and changed, 1:01 back and changed. He looks really good,” Brown said. “Early voting is half a mile outside of Accretive, who will run in H. Allen Jerkens. They were excellent. I think Early Voting has really crossed the line today. He’s very much considering the Travers after this job today. “
Brown also passed GISW and Haskell third ‘TDN Rising Star’ Jack Christopher (Munnings) five-eighths in 1:00.80 (3/27) in the company with outside the 3-year-old’s subsidized Into Mischief. He’s targeting the seven-feathered GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Runhappy Dealer card.
“Jack Christopher actually picked it up this week. I’m very pleased with that because last week he was working a bit slow with some traffic and things,” Brown said. “That kind of thing is a bit difficult. So he needs to do a stronger job today and I think we’ve moved on very well.”
Hopeful Iowa Hybrid Travers Ain’t Life Grand (Not this time) had his first work on Saturday on the main Saratoga track since arriving from Prairie Meadows. The Iowa Derby winner crossed the half-mile in: 48.23 (13/86).
“He is stable and doing very well. Coach Kelly Von Hemel said he’s been doing well this morning, so so far so good. “I wasn’t there, but everyone there was satisfied with the job. It was a solid time and everything was fine.”
Cyberknife (Gunman), GI TVG.com’s close winner Haskell S., worked five eighths in 1:01.05 (8/27) on Saturday’s lead track alongside 4-year-old Supremacy (Structure) (1:01.90) for trainer Brad Cox.
