Trainer David Fawkes sat astride
his dark sprinter Apriority outside
his barn Wednesday morning, soaking up the crisp
Saratoga morning.
“If [trainer] Larry Jones can
ride, I can ride,” Fawkes quipped before turning his attention to Apriority. “He
loves this. He’s been in the barn a long time.”
The 5-year-old Grand Slam colt,
owned by Donald Dizney, last was seen finishing fourth, beaten a shade more than
five lengths by Sean Avery, on August 7 in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt
Handicap.
Fawkes said Apriority now will be
pointed to the Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh on October 1, part of the Super
Saturday card at Belmont Park that features five Grade 1 races, including the
Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Beldame, the Flower Bowl Invitational and the Joe
Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational.
Fawkes also plans to run another
horse in the Vosburgh, defending champion sprinter Big Drama, who continues to work toward
his return at Calder Race Course.
“I’m going to try to run him one
time before that race,” said Fawkes, who suggested the 5-year-old Montbrook
horse, owned by Harold Queen, likely would tune up in the Icecapade Stakes on
September 5 at
Monmouth
Park.
Big Drama only has made one run
this year, a victory in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at
Gulfstream
Park.