Preakness (G1) and Belmont (G1) hero AFLEET ALEX (Northern Alex) will head to Saratoga as
early as Friday, according to trainer Tim Ritchey. The bay sophomore was
recently knocked out of consideration for next Sunday’s Haskell Invitational
(G1) as well as the August 27 Travers (G1) due to a hairline condylar fracture
in his left-front leg at the bottom of the cannon bone. He’s expected to arrive
with nine other Ritchey trainees.
“Since I’m bringing nine horses to Saratoga, I wanted Afleet Alex to come
along,” Ritchey said. “I really don’t want to leave him alone at Belmont. I want
him to be here with me so I can monitor his progress every day.”
The conditioner said he’ll bring Afleet Alex out for walks after the colt has
been at Saratoga for seven to 10 days.
“We’ll start hand-walking him around the stall,” he said. “About a week after
that, I’m hoping to have someone on his back and walk around the barn. If
everything continues to go well, he’ll be on the track training and walking around
the paddock.
“He’s really doing well,” Ritchey added. “I’m really looking forward to
having him back in training.”