Bellamy Road likely for Travers

Last updated: 8/23/05 8:15 PM

Nick Zito
said Bellamy Road will probably head to the Travers
(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer Nick Zito likely will run BELLAMY ROAD (Concerto) in Saturday’s $1
million Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga rather than the $250,000 King’s Bishop S.
(G1). The latter, at seven furlongs, is expected to attract the undefeated
sprint sensation LOST IN THE FOG (Lost Soldier).

“I’m leaning toward the Travers,” Zito said. “I talked to (owner) George
(Steinbrenner) and (Kinsman Stable Farm Manager) Ed (Sexton) and they both said
that if I felt comfortable with running him in the Travers, they would be fine
with that.

“It’s a tough decision because both races are difficult. If Lost in the Fog
were to somehow skip the King’s Bishop, that would be something that would
affect my decision. Coming in off a four-month layoff at seven furlongs without
having to run into Lost in the Fog would be a pretty big reason to run in the
King’s Bishop.

“At the same time, you look at a race like the Travers and you know you only
have one shot at it because it is only for three-year-olds. You look at what’s
happened recently: Bob Baffert has a nice horse break down on him and has to be
destroyed; Roses in May is retired because of injury; Afleet Alex (Northern
Afleet) gets hurt after the Belmont Stakes ([G1]). That’s when you start to
realize that you have to take your shots whenever you can.”

Zito is expected to enter ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) in Saturday’s
136th running of the Travers.

“With everyone focused on Bellamy Road, he has become sort of forgotten,”
Zito said. “But he has been training well and he looks great. He has a big race
in him; I know that.”

Bellamy Road and Andromeda’s Hero galloped a mile and a half on the Oklahoma
Training Track Tuesday morning. Zito will make his final decision regarding
Bellamy Road at the Travers post-position draw in the paddock on Wednesday at
11:10 a.m. (EDT).

Travers contender CHEKHOV (Pulpit), a $3.3 million auction purchase, breezed
five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 over Saratoga’s main track on Tuesday. It was the
sixth fastest of 39 works at the distance.

“He came home the last five-eighths very strongly,” trainer Patrick Biancone
said. “He had a good morning.”

In his last two starts, Chekhov finished fourth in the Haskell Invitational
H. (G1) and second in the Long Branch Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) at Monmouth Park.
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who won the Travers in 1995 with Thunder Gulch
and in 2001 with Point Given, has the call.

Biancone also breezed his potential two-year-old superstar HENNY HUGHES
(Hennessy). The undefeated winner of the Saratoga Special S. (G2) worked five
furlongs in :59 3/5, breezing. It was the third-fastest work at the distance. Henny Hughes is expected to see action in Saturday’s $250,000 Hopeful S. (G1) on
the Travers Day undercard.

“He’s doing excellent,” Biancone said. “He was just stretching his little
legs.”

Jim Dandy S. (G2) winner FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) jogged on Tuesday,
one day after breezing five furlongs over the main track in 1:00 1/5.

“Some horses get a little high when you walk them the day after working,”
trainer Todd Pletcher explained. “He’s feeling pretty fresh and since we got
pushed back a bit with his work we decided to take him to the track.”

Flower Alley is expected to vie for favoritism in the Travers with ROMAN
RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus), the Haskell winner.

Roman Ruler breezed five furlongs in :59 1/5 in his final pre-Travers work on
Monday.