Calumet Farm's Bravazo (Awesome Again) recorded his final principal work leading up to Sunday's GI Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, negotiating a half-mile in :48.77 over the Oklahoma training track listed as 'good.'
“What we're trying to do is just put him on his toes for the Haskell,” explained Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “A shake-the-trees type work. Just a good solid work. I put a nice little 2-year-old in there [Derby Date, by Will Take Charge] to see if he can run a little bit. They work well those two.”
Winner of the GII Risen Star S. in February, Bravazo finished sixth in the May 5 GI Kentucky Derby before finishing a fast-closing second in the GI Preakness S. May 19. He came home sixth in the GI Belmont S. June 8.
“I was very disappointed, but the Belmont, the way it unfolded and everything, compromised his chances completely,” Lukas explained. “We wanted to get up in those fractions going down the backside, and put some pressure on Justify and see if we can run with him the last quarter. [Justify] got the first run away, [and] we couldn't get out; we were pinned there. I said with five-eighths left to go that we weren't going to beat anybody. We wasted ourselves.”
Following the Haskell, Lukas plans to forge on to the GI Travers S. Aug. 25.
“He had a complete physical after the Belmont–70-something X-rays, a complete, Grade A bill of health,” stated Lukas, adding, “I tell you most of these horses after the Triple Crown are either tired, used up and need a little rest because that's a hard series. Some of them will flourish and get stronger and fill up, and he's one of them. He's a very tough horse. Our schedule right now is the Haskell and the Travers. I think he's one of the horses that can handle that.”
Sporting Chance Jim Dandy Bound; Travers Possible..
Last year's GI Hopeful S. winner Sporting Chance (Tiznow) remains on target for the July 28 GII Jim Dandy S., and may continue on to the Travers, Lukas confirmed yesterday. The Robert Baker and William Mack-campaigned colt finished sixth in his most recent start in the Preakness.
“Mentally, his gene pool kicked in. His sire was very difficult to train,” said Lukas. “This one has got some quirks about him. If he shows up with his best race, and I think he likes this racetrack, if he shows up he'll be very tough in the Jim Dandy, but he's got to bring his 'A' game.”
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