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2010 Travers Stakes: Morning Works

By Frankel

Saturday is the Midsummer Derby at Saratoga: the Grade 1 Travers Stakes.  From the reports throughout the racing world it looks like there could be a nice full field of three year olds contesting the 141st  running of this prestigious race.  This will also likely be the last time that many of these three year olds will run in races restricted to their age group as most will dive into the older ranks in preparations for possible Breeders' Cup runs.

A couple of notes regarding this year's potential Travers day starters:

-The draw will take place Wednesday morning at Saratoga.

-Afleet Alex continues to show his usefulness at stud as he could possibly have three runners in this year's field: Admiral Alex, Afleet Again, and Afleet Express.  

-Discreetly Mine rolls into this race after destroying the field in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on August 2nd (he earned a 111 BSF for his effort).  I'm not sure if he's cut out to carry his speed over ten furlongs but he should ensure that the pace is lively on the front end.

Speaking of Discreetly Mine, he's got an interesting work patter in the table below.  He ripped off a blazing 46.22 for four furlongs in his work prior to the Amsterdam and then has come back to post two very slow drills, both at Saratoga and at four panels.  Seems like they are trying to build some stamina into him but I'm surprised they didn't try to stretch him out for a slow five or six furlong work at least once.  

Discreetly Mine will not run in the Travers but instead will run in the King's Bishop.  Trappe Shot, however, has opted for the Travers.

-Nick Zito has got to be happy with the probable entry of Discreetly Mine into the race as his horse, Ice Box, desperately needs the leaders to set a good, honest pace in this race.  He should also appreciate the extra furlong after his so-so effort in the 1 1/8 mile Haskell.

-According to reports, First Dude has been working with blinkers for trainer Dale Romans.

Below the jump is a summary of the morning work tab for horses mentioned as possible starters in this Saturday's race.

Date

Horse

Track

Surf.

Dist.

Time

Type

Rank

7/26

A Little Warm

SAR

Dirt

5

1:00.05

B

8/14

A Little Warm

SAR

Dirt

5

1:03.06

B

21/28

8/21

A Little Warm

SAR

Dirt

5

1:01.58

B

9/28

7/26

Admiral Alex

SAR

Dirt

5

1:01.12

B

8/11

Admiral Alex

SAR

Dirt

5

1:02.67

B

8/20

Admiral Alex

SAR

Dirt

6

1:14.02

B

1/1

7/18

Afeet Again

MTH

Dirt

5

1:00.40

B

7/26

Afeet Again

MTH

Dirt

4

:49.00

B

8/22

Afeet Again

SAR

Dirt

4

:48.10

B

1/7

7/23

Afleet Express

SAR

Dirt

7

1:25.62

B

8/14

Afleet Express

SAR

Dirt Training

5

1:01.00

H

2/18

8/21

Afleet Express

SAR

Dirt

6

1:13.06

B

1/2

7/27

Discreetly Mine

SAR

Dirt

4

:46.22

B

8/15

Discreetly Mine

SAR

Dirt

4

:51.88

B

50/55

8/22

Discreetly Mine

SAR (Sloppy)

Dirt Training

4

:52.32

B

3/4

7/22

First Dude

CD

Dirt

6

1:14.20

B

8/14

First Dude

CD

Dirt

5

1:01.40

B

8/18

8/21

First Dude

CD (Sloppy)

Dirt

5

1:01.40

B

2/7

7/26

Fly Down

SAR

Dirt Training

4

:47.30

H

8/12

Fly Down

SAR

Dirt Training

4

:48.68

H

8/21

Fly Down

SAR

Dirt Training

4

:48.35

H

4/25

7/26

Friend or Foe

SAR

Dirt

4

:47.33

B

8/13

Friend or Foe

SAR

Dirt

5

1:00.11

B

8/21

Friend or Foe

SAR

Dirt

5

1;00.60

B

5/28

7/25

Ice Box

SAR (Muddy)

Dirt Training

4

:48.85

B

8/12

Ice Box

SAR

Dirt Training

4

:48.76

H

8/20

Ice Box

SAR

Dirt

5

1:00.09

B

2/26

7/26

Miner's Reserve

SAR

Dirt Training

4

:48.80

B

8/12

Miner's Reserve

SAR

Dirt Training

4

:50.50

B

8/20

Miner's Reserve

SAR

Dirt Training

4

:48.35

H

2/30

7/26

Super Saver

SAR

Dirt

5

1:00.77

H

8/14

Super Saver

SAR

Dirt

5

1:02.56

B

18/28

8/21

Super Saver

SAR

Dirt

5

1:01.13

B

6/28

7/26

Trappe Shot

SAR

Dirt

4

:48.28

B

8/14

Trappe Shot

SAR

Dirt

4

:48.97

B

9/40

8/21

Trappe Shot

SAR

Dirt

5

1:01.92

B

14/28

8/5

Trickmeister

SAR

Dirt

5

1:03.66

B

8/11

Trickmeister

SAR

Dirt

6

1:12.40

H

8/17

Trickmeister

SAR

Dirt

6

1:12.76

B

2/2