Jeff Drown's unbeaten sophomore Summer Revolution (Summer Bird), recently named a 'TDN Rising Star' after capturing a seven-furlong allowance test at Saratoga Saturday, could make his next start in the GI Travers S. or GI Ketel One King's Bishop S. at the Spa Aug. 27, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said Monday. Rodriguez said that he would confer with Drown before making a final decision.
“We're not too sure yet, I'll talk to the owners,” Rodriguez said. “But we'll take our time. We want to give him the opportunity to be a nice horse. I don't want to say no and I don't want to say yes.”
Summer Revolution won his debut going seven panels downstate at Belmont July 4 and remained undefeated with a commanding score Saturday, earning a flashy Beyer Speed Figure of 104 in the process. The King's Bishop is run at the same distance, while the 10-furlong Travers would represent a significant distance test for the chestnut.
Trainer Steve Asmussen has two possible candidates for the Travers in GI Belmont S. hero Creator (Tapit) and MGSW and GI Kentucky Derby third Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), and both colts breezed a half-mile over the Oklahoma training track Monday morning. WinStar Farm and Bobby Flay's Creator, recently last of six in the GII Jim Dandy S. at the Spa July 30, covered the distance in :50.94, while Winchell Thoroughbreds, Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables' Gun Runner, fifth in the GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational July 31, went in :51.33.
“They breezed back beautifully,” said Asmussen, who is set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday. “I'm very happy. Obviously, I'm disappointed in each of their last races but the only thing I'm worried about now is how they're doing today and today we're looking good.”
Asmussen said both 3-year-olds will be asked for a bit more in their workouts next Monday–efforts that will serve as a barometer to assess the likelihood of a Travers appearance.
“Weather permitting, they'll work more serious next Monday and we'll look to make decisions on where we want to go with both after a more serious move,” Asmussen concluded.
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