While both Haskell winner Bluegrass Cat and West Virginia Derby winner Bright One will most likely end up running in the $1 million Travers on Aug. 26, the connections of both horses on Monday wanted a little more time before declaring their horses definite.
Both Todd Pletcher, trainer of Bluegrass Cat, and Dale Romans, trainer of Bright One, said they are concerned about having to face Jim Dandy winner Bernardini on just 20 days' rest.
"He ran a big race. That's always your concern; you want to give them plenty of time if possible," Pletcher said of Bluegrass Cat. "That's what we'll spend the next 18 days sorting out."
Bluegrass Cat did run a bang-up second to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby just three weeks after running a poor race in the Bluegrass Stakes. Bluegrass Cat arrived back at Saratoga Monday morning.
Bright One captured his first graded event by going gate to wire in the West Virginia Derby. He returned to Churchill Downs on Monday.
"Right now, we're pointing to the Travers," Romans said. "But if he acts tired or there's any problems, then we will go to Plan B."
With the Pennsylvania Derby being canceled this year, a likely plan B would be the $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 23.