Of the 139 previous runnings of the Travers, 92 were run over a fast track
In a perfect world, trainer Todd Pletcher would prefer a fast track for
“It’s like always with the weather,” Pletcher said. “You wish that it was
Quality Road has never raced on off track, but he did drill five furlongs in
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Tim Ice, trainer of Belmont S. (G1) winner SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), said he
did not think a wet track would adversely affect the chestnut colt.
“He showed me a sloppy track didn’t affect him by the way he ran in the
Haskell (Invitational [G1]),” Ice said, referring to Summer Bird’s second-place
finish to Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) at Monmouth Park.
Summer Bird’s other outing over an off track took place in the Kentucky Derby
(G1), in which he finished sixth after a seven-wide run.
The son of 2004 Travers winner Birdstone took his customary mid-morning nap
after a gallop over the main track at 6 a.m. (EDT) Friday.
“His whole attitude is changing as the race approaches,” Ice said. “He knows
he’s going to run. It’s not that there’s a change in his routine, he just knows
what’s going to happen and he gets his game face on.”
After Peter Pan S. (G2) victor CHARITABLE MAN (Lemon Drop Kid) galloped 1 1/2
miles Friday morning, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he would prefer a fast
track for the Travers.
“He won on a wet track when he won the Futurity (S. [G2] at Belmont Park)
last year,” McLaughlin said. “The rain is a concern, but the bigger concern is
the competition. It’s a tough race.”
Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, said he was not at all
concerned about the weather’s effect on Dwyer S. (G2) and Jim Dandy S. (G2)
winner KENSEI (Mr. Greeley).
“He won in the slop at Hot Springs, and the track couldn’t have been any
worse that day,” Blasi said, alluding to Kensei’s allowance/optional claiming
score in his sophomore debut at Oaklawn Park in April. “I’m not going to worry
about it. After the 2007 Breeders’ Cup (at Monmouth), I do not worry about the
weather at all.
“That day I sat on a five-gallon bucket and stared out the door all day,” he
said. “All it did was rain for seven days.”
Over Monmouth’s sloppy track on that occasion, Curlin won the Breeders’ Cup
Classic (G1) to notch the first of his two Horse of the Year titles.
Trainer Ian Wilkes had Jim Dandy runner-up WARRIOR’S REWARD (Medaglia d’Oro)
gallop about 1 3/8 miles over the main track Friday morning.
“I let him have a strong gallop today,” Wilkes said. “I wanted a stronger
gallop from him. He’s doing good and he’s really on his game. He’s probably a
stronger horse now. He’s a big horse. It’s not like he has to grow more. He’s
just filling out to himself now.”
Wilkes will be getting some of the Saratoga racing spotlight this weekend
with Warrior’s Reward running in the Travers, Capt. Candyman Can (Candy Ride [Arg])
competing in Saturday’s King’s Bishop S. (G1) and Miss Isella going in Sunday’s
Personal Ensign S. (G1).
“I feel good about our horses,” said Wilkes, a 44-year-old native of New
South Wales, Australia. “I feel very fortunate to be in this situation. I
believe things happen for a reason. I never take things for granted. The main
thing is that I never get away from the idea of developing a horse. That’s the
whole key to it. Without the horse, I am no one. If I keep developing horses and
keep them consistent, then I’ve got a real shot.”
Travers-bound HOLD ME BACK (Giant’s Causeway) schooled in the gate and
galloped 1 1/4 miles over the Oklahoma training track Friday morning for Hall of
Fame trainer Bill Mott.
“He’s doing great,” Mott said with enthusiasm. “He had a strong gallop. He
stood in the gate and backed out beautifully. We just wanted to get him over the
anxiety. He can be a little anxious at times. He can get himself revved up
sometimes and wants to run. He’s focused and going forward. He’s ready to roll.”
Hold Me Back, successful in the Lane’s End S. (G2) earlier this season, is
coming off a fifth-place finish in the Virginia Derby (G2) when making his turf
debut.