A
Little Warm had his first work since taking the Grade 2 Jim Dandy this
morning, going an easy five-eighths over the main track under exercise rider
Tess Bisha in preparation for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1
million Travers on Saturday, August 28 .
Going
out shortly after the renovation break, A Little Warm covered the distance in
1:03.06, breezing, which ranked 21st of 27 moves at the distance.
“He
went around the racetrack very evenly,” said Tony Dutrow, who trains A Little
Warm for Edward P. Evans. “He galloped out very, very well and we are very
happy with him, as we have been since he got up here at Saratoga.
“He
had a big effort in Delaware and four weeks after that he came up here and had
another big effort in the Jim Dandy,” added Dutrow of the Stormin Fever colt,
who came off a three-month layoff to win an optional claimer at Delaware Park
on June 29 prior to the Jim Dandy. “This is two weeks after that race, and we
did not feel he needed much at all, so that’s the approach we’re taking with
him.”
On
track at the same time as A Little Warm was Kentucky Derby winner Super
Saver, who went five furlongs in 1:02.56, breezing, under exercise rider
Patti Barry.
The
move was the 18th fastest of 27 at the distance and a bit slower than
what trainer Todd Pletcher was looking for.
“We
were looking for around 1:01,” said Pletcher of the Maria’s Mon colt, who
carries the colors of WinStar Farm. “Next time we’ll put him in company to make
sure he keeps his interest down the lane. He was a little bit idle from the
eighth pole to the wire, but he responded with a decent gallop out. I’m pleased
with the way he’s been training since the Haskell and we feel like he’s going
to make a move forward.”
Afleet
Express, third behind A Little Warm and Miner’s Reserve in the Jim Dandy,
put in his first work since the race, covering five furlongs over the Oklahoma
Training Track in 1:01.00, according to NYRA Clockers.
“He
looked good, just galloping along,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. “We
wanted to go out around 8 a.m. – it’s a mad rush when they first open it after
the break, but it was nice and quiet when he went out.”
Afleet
Express, who broke his maiden at Aqueduct Racetrack on December 5, used a
second-level allowance race at Belmont
as a steppingstone to win the Grade 3 Pegasus at Monmouth on June 19 before his
start in the Jim Dandy.
Trappe
Shot, who will make his next start August 28 in either the Travers or the
Grade 1 King’s Bishop, breezed four furlongs in 48.97 Saturday morning
“He
went with Taqarub and we got him galloping out in 1:01 4/5,” said trainer
Kiaran McLaughlin. “We’re very happy. It was a very strong workout. He’ll have
another next week. It will probably be on Saturday, but we can move it to
Friday or Sunday depending on the weather.”
McLaughlin
will not rush the decision of whether Trappe Shot will compete in the 1 ¼-mile
Travers or in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop.
“Everything
is good, but we’re not going to make a decision yet,” he said.
First
Dude, who was second in the Preakness, third in the Belmont Stakes and
third in the Haskell in his three most recent starts, breezed five furlongs at
Churchill Downs this morning in 1:01.40 with trainer Dale Romans looking on.
“He
looked great and he worked great,” said Romans by telephone from Kentucky. “As for travel
plans, we’ll see how he comes out of it tomorrow and work off that.”