Good Magic, Vino Rosso, King Zachary work for Travers Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Led by probable favorite Good Magic, three of the 10 horses expected for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 25 put in workouts over Saratoga’s main track Saturday morning.

Good Magic, the Kentucky Derby runner-up and dominant winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational in his most recent start, went a half-mile in 48.18 seconds by himself, getting his final quarter in 23.81.

“Very happy with that, love the way he’s moving,” trainer Chad Brown said shortly after the work. “He’s been thriving up here, that horse. Thriving.”

That was Good Magic’s first work over Saratoga’s main track since last September, after he finished second to Hazit in his debut here on Travers Day. Good Magic had been based at Belmont since the Preakness, where he ran fourth, and did all his preparation for the Haskell at Belmont.

Just before Good Magic worked, Jim Dandy third-place finisher Vino Rosso breezed a half-mile in 47.92 seconds in company with Alberobello, a 3-year-old filly under consideration for the Alabama.

Under John Velazquez, Vino Rosso started about a half-length back and did respond to some urging to finish on even terms with Alberobello. Vino Rosso, who got his last quarter in 23.32 seconds, galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.58 and six furlongs in 1:14.49.

“Typical Vino Rosso work – finished up well, galloped out nicely,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Doing it in hand. Seems like he’s had a good two weeks since the Jim Dandy.”

Afterward, it was confirmed that Velazquez would ride Vino Rosso in the Travers, meaning the mount on the filly Wonder Gadot is open. Trainer Mark Casse planned to have a jockey finalized early next week.

King Zachary, fourth in the Indiana Derby, worked five furlongs in 59.34 seconds over the main track.

Dale Romans confirmed that Robby Albarado would ride King Zachary in the Travers. Romans said he is on the fence about whether to run West Virginia Derby winner Mr Freeze back in three weeks in the Travers or wait for the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 22.

Two weeks out, here is the prospective Travers field, with riders: Axelrod (Florent Geroux), Bravazo (Luis Saez), Catholic Boy (Javier Castellano), Good Magic (Jose Ortiz), Gronkowski (Joel Rosario), Hofburg (Irad Ortiz Jr.), King Zachary (Robby Albarado), Tenfold (Ricardo Santana Jr.), Vino Rosso (John Velazquez), and Wonder Gadot (TBD).