One week out from the GI Runhappy Travers S., major contenders for the 3-year-old centerpiece were out in force at the Spa Saturday morning.
Gold Square's GI Arkansas Derby and GI TVG.com Haskell S. winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) breezed five-eighths in 1:00 (6/17) over Saratoga's main track.
“Excellent move, galloped out great and cooled out good,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We're all set. He's doing about as well as he can do and we are excited about the race.”
Trainer Chad Brown breezed several Runhappy Travers Day hopefuls over the main track Saturday, led by GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner and GII Jim Dandy S. second-place finisher Zandon (Upstart), who covered five furlongs in 1:00.65 (7/17).
The GI Preakness S. hero and Jim Dandy fourth Early Voting (Gun Runner), piloted by Jose Ortiz, drilled five-eighths in 1:01 (11/17) in company with narrow GII Amsterdam S. runner-up Accretive (Practical Joke), who is targeting the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
Travers-bound Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate), with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, went a half-mile in :47 (5/80) with GISW Search Results (Flatter), who is targeting the GI Personal Ensign S. on Runhappy Travers Day.
“I thought all of the Travers horses worked super,” Brown said. “The track was a lot faster after the break today and a lot faster than it has been for the whole meet. We'll see what role that plays in the preparation of horses in the afternoon. I know that's an observation that everyone is going to tell you who has been training on it.”
Brown added, “I'm very excited about it [Travers]. I feel very grateful. These horses are hard to come by. It's just the reality. To have three in here, I am hoping one of them can get it done.”
Brown also breezed MGISW and Haskell third 'Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings) five-eighths in :59.80 (4/17) in company to the outside of state-bred allowance-winning 3-year-old colt Key Point (Into Mischief). He is targeting the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
“Jack Christopher did that well within himself,” Brown said. “He's back to his old self after being a tick sluggish out of the Haskell. He has been working a little bit stronger and I was pleased with that.”
Iowa Derby winner Ain't Life Grand (Not This Time) breezed a bullet half-mile in :45.88 (1/80) Saturday over the Saratoga main track in preparation for the Runhappy Travers.
“I thought it was a very good work,” trainer Kelly Von Hemel said. “That track was playing a little bit faster today than what it has been so the time was a little quicker than we anticipated. But he did everything like we wanted and well within himself. He came back great and we're very happy with it.”
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