Charitable Man drills bullet; no decision on Travers

Charitable Man, shown working earlier this summer at Belmont, blitzed a half-mile at Saratoga (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) At Saratoga on Thursday, multiple Grade 2 winner CHARITABLE MAN (Lemon Drop Kid) breezed a half-mile in a bullet :47 4/5, posting the fastest of 26 works at the distance on the fast main track. Third as the favorite in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) last time out, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is under consideration for the $1 million Travers S. (G1) on August 29.  “He worked very well and we were happy with it,” McLaughlin said. “Now, I’ll speak to (owner) Mr. (William) Warren; the Travers is coming up very fast and we’ll discuss that, and our other options.” Meanwhile, trainer Steve Asmussen said that Jim Dandy victor KENSEI (Mr. Greeley) is doing fine and remains on target for his next workout Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track. Stablemate RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro), unbeaten in seven starts so far this year, including four straight Grade 1 victories in the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose and Haskell Invitational, also is expected to work Monday in preparation for a start in one of five upcoming races, four of them Grade 1 contests at Saratoga.

Asmussen has said Rachel Alexandra’s options include the Alabama S. (G1) on
August 22, the Travers, the Personal Ensign S. (G1) on August 30 and the
Woodward S. (G1) on September 5.  The other race under consideration is the
$1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) on September 7 at Philadelphia Park.

“We’re not going to make a decision anytime before Monday,” Asmussen said.
“We’ll work them, see how they come back, and continue to discuss our options.”

One definitely Travers-bound is SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), the Belmont S. (G1)
hero who was most recently runner-up to Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell.

After galloping over the Oklahoma training turf course on Wednesday, Summer
Bird was back on the Saratoga main track Thursday morning for a 1 1/2-mile
gallop. Outfitted with his signature blue blinkers, the Tim Ice pupil started at
the finish line and galloped strongly down the backstretch, maintaining his pace
through the stretch before finishing up at the five-eighths pole.

“He looked good today,” Ice said. “When he turned around, galloped off and
went past me the first time, I was happy with the way he looked.”

After the gallop, Summer Bird showed slight resistance returning to the
paddock entrance, pulling exercise rider Liandro Atempa to stay on the track and
refusing to move forward. 

“He likes to stand out there and look around,” Ice said. “I don’t blame him.
I wouldn’t want to come back to the stall either. That’s just him.”

Summer Bird’s lukewarm reception to his Wednesday turf trial didn’t seem to
bother his trainer.

“He probably thought he was out there to eat,” Ice joked. “We’ll keep him on
the dirt for now; it’s not as though he doesn’t run well enough (on that
surface).” 

Ice indicated that Summer Bird would gallop Friday after the break on the
main track and put in a five-furlong work Saturday morning.