Honor Marie, Thorpedo Anna Continue Travers Preparation

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/04/2024 - 13:09
Link: 
Honor Marie, Thorpedo Anna Continue Travers Preparation
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Mathea Kelley
Honor Marie trains at Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby

Honor Marie  was the lone hopeful for the Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (G1) on the Saratoga Race Course work tab Aug. 4, as he breezed five furlongs in 1:00.85 over the Oklahoma Training Track.

The Oklahoma was a popular place to be when the Honor Code  colt emerged from his barn alongside stablemate Agoo . The pair picked up an unplanned training partner in the stretch, but the breeze went according to plan for trainer Whit Beckman.

"The instructions were go a smooth five-eighths," Beckman said. "There was a little bit of traffic out there, but they worked out a nice little breeze trip."

The colt who races for Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, and Kenneth and Dave Fishbein passed his rival in the gallop out before starting to wind down.

Sign up for

"Once he gets himself clear, he knows it's not time to be moving through the bridle anymore," Beckman said. "He needs a target so the long gallop-out down the stretch got a little muted, but he looked great to me."

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione breezed Honor Marie Sunday morning, his second time aboard the colt. Several jockeys have been aboard Honor Marie in the morning since Ben Curtis rode him in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Florent Geroux in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Beckman said a jockey decision would likely come this week.

Gargan Confidently Moving Forward with Dornoch

Across the barn area, trainer Danny Gargan is marching forward with confidence in preparing Belmont and Haskell (G1) winner Dornoch  for the Travers.

"We're not going to change anything, keep doing what we're doing," Gargan said. "Stay calm and collected and keep everything just like we had it."

Gargan plans to breeze the son of Good Magic   twice before the race that could clinch him divisional Eclipse honors. The first breeze will likely come 15-17 days out while the final breeze about a week before.

Asked what he thought of the competition lining up, Gargan said, "We're here to run, we hope they all show up."

Baffert on the fence with Muth, Parenting

Gargan might not get his wish as trainer Bob Baffert is on the fence about running either Muth  or Parenting  in the Travers, but appears to be leaning against both following National Treasure 's defeat in the Whitney (G1).

"I'm a little behind. To go to the Travers, you have to have a horse who's pretty well seasoned," Baffert said. "Muth is seasoned, but he hasn't run in a long time."

Zedan Racing's Muth was also on the work tab Sunday, but at Del Mar. Breaking from the gate, he handily completed six furlongs in 1:12.00

"I'm leaving the door open, but it's just open a little bit," Baffert said. "Never say never."

Thorpedo Anna Schools at Saratoga

Regardless of whether Baffert's trainees participate, he is intrigued to watch the race as Thorpedo Anna , trained by Kenny McPeek, takes on the boys.

"I think she'll hold her own," Baffert said. "I'm all for it, I'd love to watch that."

Fresh off her Aug. 2 five-furlong breeze in 1:01.55 over the Oklahoma, Thorpedo Anna was back in action Sunday as she schooled in the paddock during the day's seventh race.

McPeek reported that the daughter of Fast Anna  is doing "super" following her work. The superstar filly will continue gate and paddock schooling once a week in the leadup to the Travers.

"I want her to get into the habit of being calm when she comes over here," McPeek said. "She's naturally high-strung and I think it's good for her."