Verrazano, Palace Malice On Track for Travers

Palace Malice starting making a strong case for 3-year-old honors when he followed up his Belmont Stakes victory with a score in the Jim Dandy on July 27 (Photo courtesy Eclipse Sportswire).
Saratoga was the place to be on Sunday morning after the renovation break as two of the top 3-year-olds stepped on the track for their penultimate works before the Travers Stakes.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sent Palace Malice and Verrazano out for their first works since winning the Jim Dandy and Haskell Stakes, respectively, last month. Palace Malice breezed four furlongs in 49.02 with Jake Nelson on board, the 16th fastest time of 67 four furlong works at Saratoga. Verrazano had Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez aboard for his four furlong work, going the distance in 49.05 in company with Jack Milton.
"I thought we had a very good morning; everything went just as we had hoped," said Pletcher. "We've certainly never come into the Travers with two horses with credentials this strong and doing as well as these two horses are. We'll just cross our fingers for 13 more days and hope everything continues to go as well as it is."
Palace Malice is looking to make history by becoming the first horse since Arts and Letters in 1969 to win the Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, and the Travers. Verrazano will be looking to keep his near perfect record in the Travers after winning the July 28 Haskell Invitational by 9 ¾ lengths. Verrazano’s only racing imperfection came in the Kentucky Derby where he finished 14th. Both colts are in contention for year-end honors with their cases gaining strength if they added a Travers win to their record. 
"You hate to run two horses like this against each other, but it's the right thing for each horse and each owner, so that's what we're going to do," Pletcher said. "Both horses are certainly in position where a win here would solidify their status at the top of the division. What better place to decide it than on the racetrack in the Travers?"
Kenny McPeek worked Travers contenders Java’s War and War Dancer over Saratoga’s Oklahoma track on Sunday as well.
Java’s War is also possible for Wednesday’s $100,000 Stroll Stakes with McPeek waiting to talk to his owner before deciding.
"It was just to let him stretch his legs," said McPeek. "He went fantastic. We're going to make a decision on whether he runs on Wednesday. I have to speak to Mr. Fipke about that detail. We may still very well run in the Travers. He worked well today, and I'm happy with that."
Java’s War went three furlongs in 37.12 seconds while War Dancer went five furlongs in 1:03.22.
JAVA'S WAR WINNING THE BLUE GRASS STAKES AT KEENELAND IN APRIL

Photo courtesy Horsephotos.com