Texas Red, Others Work at Spa Toward Travers

Recent Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) winner Texas Red turned in his penultimate breeze Saturday, Aug. 15 ahead of his planned bid in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course.

Under jockey Corey Lanerie, the Afleet Alex   colt covered five furlongs in 1:01.66 for Southern California-based trainer Keith Desormeaux on the Saratoga main track.

"We were happy with that," said assistant trainer Julie Clark. "Corey said he gallops out strong; he's not tough to pull up but he's ready to keep going a little bit further. It was nice."

Winner of last year's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), Texas Red's 3-year-old season got off to a slow start, missing much of the spring because of a foot abscess. The colt returned this summer with a runner-up finish in the Dwyer Stakes (gr. III) July 4 at Belmont Park before edging Frosted by a half-length in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy.

"Going into the Dwyer, we felt like he kind of needed a couple of preps leading up to the Travers," Clark said. "The Jim Dandy wasn't a pleasant surprise exactly, but I was impressed that he was as far along in his fitness as he was, for sure. I think that anytime you can get acclimated to a track and get a feel of it (is a good thing) and he showed that he liked it here, so that certainly helps him."

Desormeaux, who watched Texas Red's victory in the Jim Dandy from his summer base at Del Mar, is expected to be on hand for his colt's final workout, scheduled for next Saturday.

Also Saturday, multiple grade 2 winner Upstart breezed over the fast main track, his first work since finishing third behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park.

Under regular exercise rider Rodney Payne, Upstart went six furlongs in 1:14.84 for trainer Rick Violette Jr., who has yet to confirm his plans for the Travers pending a possible appearance by the Haskell winner.

"We'll point for the Travers. I doubt that (we'd want to) hook American Pharoah, and if he doesn't come then we'll be ready to roll," Violette said. "He went terrific. It was a little bit of a combination of maintenance and to get some air in his lungs; he went the last quarter in :23 and change. It was a great breeze, and he cooled out well."

The Haskell was the first start in three months for Ralph Evans and WinStar Farm's Upstart since finishing last in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). 

"He needed the Haskell, there's no question. I got him ready, but I didn't pound on him to get him ready," Violette said. "He really hadn't had a real race since March. The Derby, he didn't run, so you can hardly count that. He needed a race and he got one in a grade I.  He'll move up off the Haskell, looking at the numbers and a little bit of common sense. If he moves up, absent American Pharoah I think we're very much in the mix."

Violette plans to give Upstart a faster, more serious work next weekend.

"He's really had kind of an easy couple weeks to let him recharge, especially the first week. The second week he got back to regular gallops," he said. "The Haskell was a good race and he bounced [out] of that and now we get back into serious mode. He'll have a fast breeze maybe Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather. He likes to run off his fast breezes."

Violette said that My Meadowview Farm's Samraat suffered another setback and isn't expected to race again this year. The multiple Grade 3 winner was last seen finishing fourth in a July 4 optional claiming allowance at Belmont Park, his first start since being injured following the 2014 Belmont Stakes.

"He actually developed another little hairline in the same leg, so we're probably going to put a screw in it," he said. "It's been frustrating, but it looks like that's what we're going to do. He hasn't done enough to really be a stallion, so we might even try him again next year."

Second to American Pharoah in the Haskell, Donegal Racing's Keen Ice returned to the work tab with a five-furlong breeze over the main track Saturday in preparation for the Travers.

With jockey Javier Castellano up for the first time, the bay son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin   was timed in 1:01.25 in company with stablemate Lulu Le' Mon.

"(Javier) said he felt like a classic distance horse. He went smooth and did everything right," said trainer Dale Romans, who turned 49 on Friday. "He worked super. If you don't know the horse, he's never going to blow you away watching him breeze because he's a big freight train, but that's as good as he works. The big thing is he comes back off the racetrack prancing and happy and wanting more."

Though the connections of American Pharoah are still undecided about coming for the Travers, Romans isn't worried about facing the Triple Crown champion. Aside from the Haskell, Keen Ice ran third behind him in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and seventh in the Derby.

"We haven't ducked him yet," Romans said. "There's not a bigger Pharoah fan around than me, but he's had a rough campaign and they can all lose. Picking up the scraps behind him hasn't been very bad. It's a tough year to have a 3-year-old. Now I know what Shecky Greene's trainer felt like."

Currently the meet's leading trainer, Todd Pletcher kept busy despite a fog over the main track Saturday morning, overseeing a number of works from runners probable for upcoming stakes on Travers Day. 

In company and possible for the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) and Travers, respectively, 3-year-olds Competitive Edge and Madefromlucky worked four furlongs in :49.49. 

Competitive Edge, who last out finished fourth in the Haskell, is likely to cut back in distance to seven furlongs for the King's Bishop. A multiple stakes winner, the son of Super Saver   has shown an affinity for Saratoga, with two wins in as many starts including last year's Hopeful. 

"The parts we could see in the fog he looked very good," said Pletcher. "He seemed to come to the finish line full of run, on the bridle, and moved really well."

Madefromlucky, who most recently won the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II), is possible for the Travers.  

"He looked good as well," said Pletcher of Madefromlucky. "We're happy with the way both of them came back. Madefromlucky is under consideration for the Travers or the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II)."

Another pair working in company from the Pletcher barn was 3-year-old Daredevil and 4-year-old filly Stopchargingmaria, both grade I winners. The duo completed four furlongs in :49.22.

Daredevil, who hasn't raced since finishing fourth in the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) April 4, is probable to return to sprinting in the King's Bishop. Town and Country Farm's Stopchargingmaria, who has won back-to-back grade III races, is being pointed to the $750,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I).

"I thought she worked very impressively," said Pletcher. "She's still on schedule for the Personal Ensign."

Lastly, Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) winner Curalina worked four furlongs in :48.66 and is expected to stretch out in distance next for the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 22. 

"She worked well this morning," said Pletcher. "It looks like she's maintaining her form. We plan to run in the Alabama if all is good tomorrow."