Travelin Man, trained by Todd Pletcher for E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC,
will cut back in distance as the likely favorite in the Grade 2, $250,000 Woody
Stephens, presented by VisitNassauCounty.com. The 3-year-old Trippi colt was
impressive in winning the seven-furlong Grade 2 Swale at Gulfstream Park on
April 3 before faltering to finish sixth in the one-mile Grade 3 Derby Trial at
Churchill Downs on April 30. He worked four furlongs in 47:50 Sunday morning at
Belmont, third fastest of 63 at the distance.
“Travelin Man worked well this
morning and is on schedule,” said Pletcher. “We’re drawing a line through that
last race. We don’t think he liked the surface there. I don’t think it mattered
the other day that is was a mile. He wasn’t going to win, no matter how far it
was.”
Also coming out of the Derby Trial
to run in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens will be J J’s Lucky Train,
who won the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct over the same distance on April 9
before finishing third at Churchill.
Also expected for the race is
multiple graded-placed Justin Phillip, stakes winner Arch Traveler,
and allowance winner Derivative. Listed as possibles are Coil, Little
Drama, Runflatout, and Vee’s Accolade.