Casse thinking Travers, not Alabama, for Wonder Gadot

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Travers may have picked up a significant contender Saturday and she didn’t even run.

Trainer Mark Casse told the New York Racing Association publicity team Saturday that Wonder Gadot, winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown, is likely to face males in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25.

“I’m fairly certain, if everything stays the same, we’re going to try the Travers with her,” Casse said Saturday after the Jim Dandy in which his runner, Flameaway, finished second to Tenfold. “She likes a mile and a quarter as good as anybody. We figure it’s one of our only shots, so why not go for it.”

According to the NYRA media guide, seven fillies have won the Travers but none since Lady Rotha in 1915. The last filly to attempt the Travers was Davona Dale, who finished fourth in 1979 as the betting favorite.

Wonder Gadot is coming off two victories against males in the Queens Plate at Woodbine and in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. Those are the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. Casse said earlier this week that he would skip the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 18, to run in the Alabama. Now, Casse is setting his sights on the Travers.

Monomoy Girl is the clear leader of the 3-year-old filly division having won all five of her starts this year including four Grade 1's. Wonder Gadot has been beaten twice by Monomoy Girl, third to her in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds and second, beaten a half-length, in the Kentucky Oaks.

With Monomoy Girl targeting the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 22, a meeting with Wonder Gadot is unlikely to take place until the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.