Trio preps for Travers

Roman Ruler worked Monday in advance of the Travers  (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) A trio of three-year-olds put in their final major works on Monday in preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga. ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus), the likely favorite for the 1 1/4-mile “Mid-Summer Derby,” worked five furlongs in :59 1/5 under regular exercise rider Dana Barnes. The move on the fast main track was the second best of 60 works at the distance. The Bob Baffert trainee won the Dwyer S. (G2) and Haskell Invitational H. (G1) in his last two starts. “Every day he seems to get better and feel better,” Barnes said. “He loves it here. We went five-eighths as easy as we could. He feels great. People don’t understand how much a win peps them up and builds their confidence. Ever since the Haskell, he thinks he’s a monster.” Jim Dandy S. (G2) winner FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 with retired Hall of Fame Jockey Angel Cordero Jr. astride. The Todd Pletcher trainee worked in company with multiple stakes winner West Virginia (Tomorrows Cat). “I liked the work a lot,” Pletcher said. “He was well in hand and I’m glad we waited until today because we got a better track and cooler weather.” Flower Alley, who won the nine-furlong Jim Dandy by a widening 5 1/4 lengths, will attempt to give trainer Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez their first Travers victory. Champion ASHADO (Saint Ballado), the heavy favorite for Friday’s $400,000 Personal Ensign H. (G1), worked five-eighths in 1:00 2/5. Originally Pletcher was going to work Ashado with Flower Alley, but decided against that. “Since Ashado’s race is only a few days out, I was worried she’d work too fast with Flower Alley.”

REVERBERATE (Thunder Gulch), runner-up to Flower Alley in the Jim Dandy,
breezed four furlongs in :48 2/5 under jockey Jose Santos in advance of the
136th running of the Travers.

“Everything went as planned and he looked good,” trainer Sal Russo said. “He
should be ready for the Travers.”

In other Travers news:

Trainer Nick Zito reported that Wood Memorial (G1) winner BELLAMY ROAD
(Concerto) and Jim Dandy third-place finisher ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi
Pegasus) came out of their Sunday morning workouts in good order. Bellamy
Road drilled five-eighths in a bullet :59 4/5 while Belmont S. (G1) runner-up
Andromeda’s Hero got his muddy five panels in 1:00 4/5.

Zito remains on the fence with Bellamy Road, who is being considered for both
the Travers and the co-featured $250,000 King’s Bishop S. (G1). Entries for both
the Travers and King’s Bishop will be taken on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Andromeda’s
Hero, who will be reunited with jockey Corey Nakatani, is expected to pass the
entry box for the Travers.

“Both horses came out of their works really good,” Zito said. “We’ll know
where we are going on Wednesday with Bellamy Road. We’ll keep looking at our
options today and tomorrow.”

If Zito decides to run Bellamy Road in the King’s Bishop, the dark bay colt
will face the undefeated sprint sensation LOST IN THE FOG (Lost Soldier) in the
seven-furlong test.

“Everyone knows I like to run in big races,” Zito said. “I wish we had the
option where we could enter him in both races. No matter how you look at it,
both races are going to be tough. I just don’t want to make a mistake. He’s
going to run; he’s not going to play any games.”

CHEKHOV (Pulpit), who finished fourth in the Haskell, remains on target for
the Travers.

“I thought he ran very well in the Haskell,” trainer Patrick Biancone said. “He
wasn’t badly beaten on a track that favors speed horses and he was against it
coming from behind. A mile and a quarter is better for him and I think his head
is right. We’ve got a shot.”

Biancone saddled last year’s Travers favorite Lion Heart, who finished
seventh. Lion Heart was injured during the race and retired from competition the
following morning.

Northern Dancer S. (G3) winner DON’T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even), fifth in the
Swaps Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) in his last start, jogged and galloped at his Santa
Anita base Monday morning. The Ron Ellis trainee, who finished fourth in the
Kentucky Derby (G1), is scheduled to travel to Saratoga on Wednesday. The Spa’s
leading rider, Edgar Prado, has the call.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy), winner of a
nine-furlong allowance race at Saratoga on Sunday, will not run back in the
Travers.

“He’s not ready for that,” Lukas said.