Gilded Age confirmed for Travers Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gilded Age, second to Artorius in the $135,000 Curlin Stakes here July 30, is confirmed to run in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 27, trainer Bill Mott said Friday.

Mott said the 1 1/4 miles of the Travers might be beneficial to his son of Medaglia d’Oro, the 2002 Travers winner, who was running late in the Curlin, finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind Artorius.

“There are some of them that aren’t going to get the trip,” Mott said. “It looks like he might get the trip. He looks like he keeps coming. He ran well enough over the track.”

On Friday, Gilded Age worked a half-mile in 48.44 seconds over Saratoga’s main track, getting his last quarter in 23.89 under jockey Junior Alvarado, who will ride in the Travers. He worked in company with the 4-year-old Argentine-bred filly Far Away Love.

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“He was just cruising, looked good,” said Mott, who trains Gilded Age for Grandview Equine and Don Alberto Stable.

Gilded Age is 2 for 8 with a third-place finish behind Early Voting and Un Ojo in the Grade 2 Withers at Aqueduct in February.

Preparations for the Travers are expected to pick up over the weekend, with Cyberknife, Charge It, Artorius, Zandon, and Early Voting all expected to work Saturday morning. Trainer Chad Brown said Artorius and Zandon are definite for the Travers, while Early Voting, the Preakness winner who finished last in the Jim Dandy, is questionable.

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Rich Strike, the Kentucky Derby winner, is expected to arrive in Saratoga over the weekend. Jim Dandy winner Epicenter is likely to have his major work for the Travers on Monday. Iowa Derby winner Ain’t Life Grand also is on the grounds.