King's Bishop next spot for Wildcat Red

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Wildcat Red shipped in from Monmouth Park on Monday to begin preparations for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on Aug. 23.

Wildcat Red is also nominated to the 1 1/4-mile Travers, but trainer Jose Garoffalo said the seven-furlong King’s Bishop just makes more sense for him. Wildcat Red, who won the Grade 3 Hutcheson at seven furlongs and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth going 1 1/16 miles this winter at Gulfstream Park, is coming off a third-place finish in the Haskell Invitational.

“Looking over the rosters of who’s running in the two races, the King’s Bishop is the best spot for him right now,” said Garoffalo. “I don’t see any real big names on the nomination list like there are for the Travers. I think he might be better around one turn, so the seven furlongs will be perfect for him, although it doesn’t mean we won’t stretch him back out again later in the year.

“We turned him back to seven-eighths to win the Hutcheson, after which he came back to win the Fountain of Youth. We’ll just see what happens here and make those decisions afterwards.”

Wildcat Red, who galloped over the main track Tuesday, will work here this weekend, with regular rider Luis Saez back aboard for the King’s Bishop, Garoffalo said.