Arcangelo (Arrogate) was in fine shape Sunday following his victory in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Saturday, but connections will take their time before picking out a next start for the sophomore.
“He came back well and is full of himself today,” said trainer Jena Antonucci. “Of course the Breeders' Cup is on the radar, but horses don't care about schedules or spreadsheets. We'll do what we've been doing and give him his space. We'll let him pave the way.”
Arcangelo added the Travers to his win in the GI Belmont S. in June.
“I'm just so glad the race has helped to validate he's not a fluke or a one-hit wonder,” said Antonucci. “It allows him to be validated, and I'm grateful for that. Horse and team, I'm most proud of that.”
Travers runner-up Disarm (Gun Runner), who closed for second while making his first start with blinkers, could make his next start in the Sept. 23 GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.
“He just seems to get incrementally better,” said Winchell Thoroughbreds racing manager David Fiske said. “[The blinkers] didn't hurt. It's hard to say how much of a difference they made because he did run some pretty credible races without the blinkers. I suspect he'll run back with them because like I said, they didn't hurt him at all.”
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher reported Sunday Tapit Trice (Tapit) and Forte (Violence) emerged well from their respective third- and fourth-place finishes in the Travers.
“They're doing good,” Pletcher said. “Both of them looked well this morning.”
Asked for future plans for the pair, Pletcher said, “We'll give it a few days to see how they are and come up with a game plan.”
Pletcher said he is pleased with how Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's Nest (Curlin) came out of her third-place finish as the favorite in Friday's GI Personal Ensign S., just her second start this year following her 2022 champion 3-year-old filly campaign.
“She's doing good,” Pletcher said. “She bounced out of the race well. It was hard to make up ground on a sloppy, gooey track when a quality horse gets loose on the lead. I thought she ran hard. It was only her second race of the year so, hopefully, it moves her forward.”
Pletcher said Nest will be pointed to either the GII Beldame S. during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet or the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland. Both 1 1/8-mile races are Oct. 8.
Repole Stable's Fierceness (City of Light), tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his impressive debut victory at Saratoga Friday, will likely tackle Grade I company for his second start, according to Pletcher.
“I think the [Oct. 7 GI] Champagne is the most logical next start,” Pletcher said.
Of the colt's maiden score, Pletcher said, “He was very impressive. He had been training really well leading up to it. We were expecting a good effort, but he actually delivered an even better one than we were hoping for.”
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