Pletcher Pair work for Travers

Todd Pletcher, who could saddle the top two choices in the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 24, sent his star 3-year-olds, Palace Maliceand Verrazano, out for easy half-mile breezes in :49.02 and :49.05, respectively, Aug. 11.

Palace Malice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Jim Dandy (gr. II), and Verrazano, runaway winner of the William Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I), have dominated the 3-year-old division over the past two months.

Daily Racing Form had Verrazano galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.39.

"Both horses went great," said Pletcher. "Palace Malice worked alone with Jake Nelson aboard, and Verrazano, with (jockey) John Velazquez aboard, went in company with Jack Milton."

Both colts are scheduled to have their final Travers work Sunday, Aug. 18.

Pletcher also worked his overwhelming Alabama Stakes (gr. I) favorite, Princess of Sylmar, who breezed her half in :49.50. Multiple graded stakes winner Graydar, who is on the comeback trail following an injury, breezed a half in :50.52.

The other Travers hopeful who should take a good of action is Orb, the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) who was scheduled to arrive at Saratoga Aug. 11 after spending time at the Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center. The Malibu Moon   colt turned in a super work at Fair Hill Aug. 10, blazing five furlongs in :59 1/5.

Others pointing for the "Midsummer Derby" are Will Take Charge, runner-up in the Jim Dandy; Moreno, third in the Jim Dandy; the Darley Stable pair of Romanshand Transparent, one-two, respectively, in the Curlin Stakes; the Kenny McPeek-trained duo of Java's War, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), and War Dancer, winner of the recent Virginia Derby (gr. IIT); and Golden Soul, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, who has disappointed in his most recent starts.