Whitney Invitational Handicap winner Cross Traffic recorded his first
published work since his Grade 1 victory on August 3, zipping four furlongs in
:47.83 in company with Forty Tales over Saratoga’s fast main track Sunday.
Cross Traffic, a four-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song, is being pointed
toward the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward, a 1 1/8-mile race on August 31.
“He’s been showing us pretty good energy here since the Whitney,” Pletcher
said of Cross Traffic, who also finished second by a nose to Sahara Sky in the
Metropolitan Handicap this year.
“I actually feel like he’s training better coming out of it than he was going
into it, so we’re trying to make sure the Woodward is the right spot. Certainly,
the way he worked this morning indicated that he’s coming out of the Whitney in
good shape.”
Pletcher is trying to figure out the best path to take to get Cross Traffic
to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 2. There is a chance Cross
Traffic could be held back for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on
September 28 at Belmont Park.
“So, that’s the decision we have to make, whether to run back here or in the
Jockey Club,” Pletcher said. “Based on what we’re seeing, it would be pretty
hard not to run him back.”
Forty Tales, winner of three straight stakes — the Derby Trial, Woody
Stephens, and Amsterdam — posted the exact same time as his older stablemate.
The sophomore is on track for a run in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 King’s
Bishop at seven furlongs.
“It was an exceptional work for Forty Tales, who’s not, generally, a very
good work horse,” Pletcher said. “Today, I thought he was really good.”
Pletcher also worked 2012 juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby in company with Graydar,
winner this year of the Donn Handicap, who hasn’t been out since taking the New
Orleans Handicap in March.
Both were recorded as traveling four furlongs in :49.02 on the main track.
“Both were in a similar situation in terms of fitness level, so I thought it
worked out really well,” Pletcher said.
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