Rattlesnake Bridge prepares for Travers; Arthur's Tale possible following work

With an eye on the weather, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin called an

audible on Friday and worked Long Branch S. scorer RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE

(Tapit) over Saratoga's fast main track, one day earlier than planned,

for the August 27 Travers S. (G1).

"We've been watching the weather the last couple of days, and I'm not

sleeping great at night worrying about rain, rain, rain, scattered

thundershowers," McLaughlin said. "So we decided to work this morning at 8:45

(a.m. EDT)."

Going out after the break with exercise rider Danny Wright in the irons,

Rattlesnake Bridge went five furlongs in company with stablemate Fact (A.P.

Indy). NYRA clockers timed Rattlesnake Bridge in 1:00 3/5 and Fact in 1:00 4/5,

the respective second- and third-fastest of 15 at the distance.

McLaughlin caught Rattlesnake Bridge, a nose scorer of the Long Branch at

Monmouth Park on July 9, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.

"He galloped out strong, and we're very pleased," he added. "It was a great

work, and we can sleep tonight."

ARTHUR'S TALE (Bernardini), last seen finishing a neck second in the April 9

Wood Memorial (G1), geared up for a possible start in the Travers with a five-furlong move in 1:01 3/5. The work was the fifth since Arthur's Tale returned to training on July

28 at Saratoga.

While the bay colt has been working consistently in recent months, his s

connections are still debating whether to start their charge in the 1 1/4-mile

Mid-Summer Derby.

"It's kind of day by day," trainer Tom Albertrani said. "The distance would

suit him; it's an ideal distance for him. It's just a matter if he's up to it.

He's only had a few works leading up to the race. But he's doing well, and if I

get all the right signs he's doing well I'd be encouraged to run him."

After breaking his maiden at Aqueduct on December 2 in his fourth start,

Arthur's Tale was fourth in both the Count Fleet S. and Whirlaway S. before

winning an optional claimer on March 23 at the Big A. He parlayed that

confidence booster into his close second in the Wood.