Saratoga: Coil impresses Garcia in Travers work

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - If jockey Martin Garcia’s opinion counts for anything, Haskell Invitational winner Coil will be in the starting gate for the $1 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 27.

"Go for it," Garcia said after guiding Coil through a six-furlong workout in 1:12.98 over a good Saratoga main track Wednesday morning.

Coil worked in company with the recent allowance winner Saddleranch, who broke off about five lengths in front of Coil. Saddleranch opened the advantage to seven lengths early in the work before Coil came within a neck of his workmate at the wire. Coil went his first quarter in 25.63 seconds, the half-mile in 49.09 and got his last quarter in 23.89 seconds. Coil and Saddleranch galloped out seven furlongs side-by-side in 1:25.75 and pulled up a mile in 1:40.28.

TRAVERS STAKES: News, Workout Video, Analysis & Replays

"I wasn’t worried about the other horse, I was just going to do my job," Garcia said when asked about not catching Saddleranch at the wire. "I was just worried about making him finish really good and gallop out. The way he did it was just very, very good."

Bob Baffert, the trainer of Coil, was in Southern California Wednesday. Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes oversaw the move and was pleased with what he saw.

"He worked great," Barnes said. "It’s not the ideal track we wanted to work on, but given the circumstances we had to work, and he had a good work."

The Travers could draw a large field that is expected to include Coil, Preakness winner Shackleford, Belmont winner Ruler On Ice, Jim Dandy winner Stay Thirsty, Long Branch Stakes winner Rattlesnake Bridge, J W Blue, Raison d’Etat, and Bowman’s Causeway. Possible starters include Arthur’s Tale, Moonshine Mullin and Prayer for Relief.

TRAVERS STAKES: News, Workout Video, Analysis & Replays