**To watch video of A Little Warm breezing over the Main Track at Saratoga Race Course Saturday morning, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/nyravideo#p/a/u/0/l5yLDIQtG2I **
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Contact: NYRA Press Office
(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237
- Travers Watch: A Little Warm, Super Saver, Afleet Express breeze five furlongs; Trappe Shot puts in half-mile work; First Dude breezes in
- Take the Points targets Bernard Baruch
- Charitable Man works five furlongs; no plans set
- Warrior’s Reward preps for Forego
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – 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
“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
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
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Grade 1 Mother Goose and Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks winner Devil May Care will work tomorrow morning at
The 1 ¼ mile race is likely to draw a stellar field of sophomore fillies, among them Mother Goose runner-up Connie and Michael, Delaware Oaks runner-up Havre de Grace and Acting Happy, third in the Coaching Club.
Tizahit, who last year won the Grade 2 Demoiselle, breezed Saturday at
Meanwhile, Havre de Grace, nosed out at the wire by Blind Luck in the Delaware Oaks, is scheduled to breeze tomorrow at
“Havre de Grace is good – very, very, very good,” said trainer Tony Dutrow of the Saint Liam filly, whom he trains for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. “She’ll work tomorrow and be on a truck for
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Take the Points, who missed today’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer with a wrenched ankle, continues to make progress and will likely make his next start in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch here on August 27, trainer Todd Pletcher said this morning.
“He galloped this morning,” said Pletcher of the multiple Grade 1 winner, most recently second in the United Nations Handicap at
Pletcher said Take the Points, winner of the Grade 1 Jamaica and the Grade 1 Secretariat last year, would breeze on the turf on August 20.
* * *.
Charitable Man, second in an optional claimer at
NYRA clockers caught the 4-year-old colt, owned by William K.
“[Former trainer] Kiaran McLaughlin told me he really likes
Dutrow said he has no plans for Charitable Man, who won last year’s Grade 2 Peter Pan and then finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes, third in the Jim Dandy, and then fourth in the Travers.
“Right now, we’re just watching him and getting a feel for him,” said the trainer. “That’s what we are experiencing right now.”
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Grade 1 winner Warrior’s Reward breezed five furlongs in 1:01.47 this morning over the main track as he continues preparations for the Grade 1, $250,000 Forego on September 4.
Warrior’s Reward, owned by Stevens A. Miles Jr., has not raced since his sixth-place finish to
“I wanted to give him a break between the Met Mile and his fall campaign,” said Wilkes, who won his first race of the meet on Friday with Warrant Ofc. Cook. “With the Forego being a Grade 1, he has to be ready to compete at that level. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be going there. He has been training well since I brought him back to the track.”
Warrior’s Reward won the Grade 1 Carter Handicap earlier this year at Aqueduct, beating Musket Man in a photo finish. Last year at
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