Cross Traffic posts first work since Whitney

Whitney Invitational Handicap winner Cross Traffic recorded his first

published work since his Grade 1 victory on August 3, zipping four furlongs in

:47.83 in company with Forty Tales over Saratoga's fast main track Sunday.

Cross Traffic, a four-year-old son of Unbridled's Song, is being pointed

toward the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward, a 1 1/8-mile race on August 31.

"He's been showing us pretty good energy here since the Whitney," Pletcher

said of Cross Traffic, who also finished second by a nose to Sahara Sky in the

Metropolitan Handicap this year.

"I actually feel like he's training better coming out of it than he was going

into it, so we're trying to make sure the Woodward is the right spot. Certainly,

the way he worked this morning indicated that he's coming out of the Whitney in

good shape."

Pletcher is trying to figure out the best path to take to get Cross Traffic

to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 2. There is a chance Cross

Traffic could be held back for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on

September 28 at Belmont Park.

"So, that's the decision we have to make, whether to run back here or in the

Jockey Club," Pletcher said. "Based on what we're seeing, it would be pretty

hard not to run him back."

Forty Tales, winner of three straight stakes -- the Derby Trial, Woody

Stephens, and Amsterdam -- posted the exact same time as his older stablemate.

The sophomore is on track for a run in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 King's

Bishop at seven furlongs.

"It was an exceptional work for Forty Tales, who's not, generally, a very

good work horse," Pletcher said. "Today, I thought he was really good."

Pletcher also worked 2012 juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby in company with Graydar,

winner this year of the Donn Handicap, who hasn't been out since taking the New

Orleans Handicap in March.

Both were recorded as traveling four furlongs in :49.02 on the main track.

"Both were in a similar situation in terms of fitness level, so I thought it

worked out really well," Pletcher said.

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