SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Goal Oriented, third in the Grade 1 Haskell in his most recent start, worked seven furlongs in 1:23.80 on Friday morning at Del Mar for an anticipated start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga. Goal Oriented, trained by Bob Baffert, worked in company with Barnes, who is one of three horses Baffert is planning to run in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on the Travers undercard. “Next work will decide, but right now that’s the plan,” Baffert said of running Goal Oriented in the Travers. “He’s got to work well next week too, but I was happy with it.” Goal Oriented, a son of Not This Time, won his debut going six furlongs at Santa Anita in April and then shipped to Kentucky, where he won a first-level allowance on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Tried in the Preakness for his third start, Goal Oriented was bumped by Journalism in upper stretch before finishing fourth behind that one, beaten 6 3/4 lengths. :: Get exclusive Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  In his most recent start, Goal Oriented finished third to Journalism in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park, losing second by a neck to Gosger. “He’s doing well,” said Baffert, who has won the Travers three times. “It was either this or the Pennsylvania Derby. We like to swing for the fences. I think he’s still learning how to run. We’re getting closer. He’s a big colt, still maturing and stuff. You can’t let one horse scare you.” The one horse to whom Baffert was referring is Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner who, after an authoritative win in the Jim Dandy, looms a heavy favorite in what will likely be a short field for the Travers. The only other confirmed runner is Magnitude, the recent 9 1/4-length winner of the Iowa Derby on July 5. Gosger, second in the Preakness and Haskell, also has been mentioned as a possibility for the Travers. Meanwhile, Baffert said he plans to shorten Barnes up in distance for the Jerkens, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds. Barnes hasn’t run since a last-place finish behind Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Barnes won the San Vicente going seven furlongs in January. “He just lost form,” Baffert said. “Stretching out got to him. He’s back, I think, and he’s doing really well.” Baffert plans to also run Midland Money and Madaket Road in the Jerkens. Midland Money, a son of Shancelot, came off a 14-month layoff to win a first-level allowance by 3 1/4 lengths on Aug. 3 at Saratoga, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. Madaket Road finished second in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens in his most recent start. Baffert also is pointing Hope Road to the Grade 1 Ballerina here Aug. 23. Hope Road is a multiple Grade 3 winner who most recently finished third in the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.