Pletcher Travers Hopefuls Work

Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed he has several horses possible for the Aug. 26 GI Travers S. after three members of his team worked Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track. The trio included May 6 GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister); Tapwrit (Tapit), victorious in the June 10 GI Belmont S.; and July 28 Curlin S. scorer Outplay (Bernardini).

Always Dreaming, who worked in tandem with Outplay, carved out an opening quarter in :25 1/5 and rounded out the four-furlong move in :48.83. The pair galloped out five eighths in 1:01 4/5.

“Both of them worked well enough to come back and work next week and see how they continue to prepare,” said Pletcher. “But I think the Travers is very much in play for both of them and Tapwrit, also.”

Pletcher continued, “I thought both horses worked very well. I was very happy with the way Always Dreaming settled nicely and relaxed early. It was an excellent work from both horses.”

Always Dreaming returned from his fourth-consecutive victory in the Derby to finish eighth in the GI Preakness S. May 20 before a recent third-place effort in Saratoga's GII Jim Dandy S. July 29. Campaigned by MeB Racing Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St Elias, Siena and West Point, the bay had been breezing solo of late.

“All of his works after the Preakness were by himself and I wanted to see where we were in terms of how the race settled him down and how he was going to respond to being in company,” said Pletcher. “I thought he rated very kindly. Johnny [Velazquez] said he was very agreeable with whatever he asked him to do.”

Added Velazquez, “He was so much better; he allowed me to get him up to [Outplay]. He normally would be fighting me to there, [but] he was really good. It went very nice. He galloped out very good. The plan was for me to stay a little bit off him and give my horse a bit of a chance. Separately, we jogged him, and I let [Outplay] start out in front, he got a little too strong, but as soon as he started picking up in front of me, he came back to me and I had him. I didn't think it was going to work out but it did. I'm very happy with it. I like the way he did it. He actually settled the first part, so that's the most important thing.”

Tapwrit, who also took the GII Tampa Bay Derby earlier this spring, breezed earlier in the morning, working in company with 3-year-old Uncle Mojo (Uncle Mo). The Bridlewood, Eclipse and LaPenta runner went five furlongs in 1:01.22 with regular jockey Jose Ortiz in the irons.

“I thought he did great,” said Pletcher. “He worked 1:01 and change, but more importantly than that, I thought he galloped out fantastic, going 1:27 and change for the seven-eighths, pulled up the mile in 1:42. [His] fitness level was very good; it seemed like he was doing it easily in hand. I was very happy with it.”