DeVaux not worried about fitness, as Golden Tempo breezes for Travers
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. − Fitness will be a main talking point when Golden Tempo runs in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 29 off a 12-week layoff. As far as trainer Cherie DeVaux is concerned, it won’t be an issue.
Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, continued his preparations for the Travers by working a half-mile in 48.94 seconds over Saratoga’s main track. Working company with Paige Turner, a stakes-placed 3-year-old filly, Golden Tempo continued out five furlongs in 1:01.38, six furlongs in 1:14.53 and seven furlongs in 1:28.56.
It was Golden Tempo’s third work in Saratoga − and fourth overall − since he was forced to miss some training time with an illness a few weeks after his victory in the June 6 Belmont Stakes. That illness, which forced Golden Tempo to miss about 10 days of training in late June, knocked him out of consideration for the Jim Dandy here on Aug. 1.
“I was a bit concerned about fitness, but in each of his works he’s not tired,” DeVaux said. “Each work is what we’re looking to see. He’s held his fitness better than anticipated.”
DeVaux said Golden Tempo will have two more workouts before the Travers but that Saturday’s move was “his last real extended breeze. He’s fit. We’ll try to keep him happy.”
A trio of other 3-year-olds who are possible for the Travers put in workouts Saturday. At Saratoga, Louisiana Derby winner Emerging Market went a half-mile over the Oklahoma training track in 50 seconds and Ocelli, a maiden who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, went a half-mile in n 47.90 seconds. At Churchill Downs, Indiana Derby winner Leading Change went five furlongs in 59.80 seconds.
Meanwhile, Englishman, DeVaux’s top 3-year-old sprinter, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds Friday at Keeneland. Englishman, winner of the Grade 1 Woody Stephens here on Belmont Day, Englishman will do all of his preparations at Keeneland leading up to the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens here on Aug. 29.
“He’s doing really well, looks great, he’ll do all his prep work in Kentucky,” DeVaux said. “I’ll keep doing what’s working for him and the all the variables out.”
Casse re-routes Classic Q to Kentucky Downs
Classic Q was scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes by trainer Mark Casse who said the filly will now be pointed to the $1.75 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 29.
“I just thought it was a tough spot,” Casse said of the Fourstardave where Classic Q would have faced several Grade 1 winning turf males. “The race we’re aiming for is in three weeks, I didn’t think [running Saturday] was the smart thing to do.”
Casse was still represented in the Fourstardave by Mi Bago.
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