Musket Man targets Stephen Foster

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Musket Man, who finished third in Saturday's Churchill Downs Sprint, will probably make his next start in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 12, trainer Derek Ryan said Thursday.

Ryan was between the Stephen Foster and the Metropolitan Handicap on May 31 at Belmont Park, but he does not find the prospect of running against Quality Road in the Met too appealing.

"If I had won the Carter, I'd go in the Met Mile," said Ryan, whose horse was beaten a nose by Warrior's Reward in the Carter. "If Quality Road is in there, I think I could compete with him, but I need a Grade 1. He's a tough horse. Going a flat mile, I think he'd be real tough. If he's in there, I'd probably skip and go to the Stephen Foster.''

Trappe Shot eyes Woody Stephens

Trappe Shot, a 3-year-old who has won both of his starts this year by a combined 23 lengths, worked four furlongs in 50.97 seconds Thursday at Belmont. It was his first breeze since he was withdrawn from consideration for the April 24 Withers because of an ankle issue.

"He did it easy," McLaughlin said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow."

McLaughlin said he wanted to get Trappe Shot back on the work tab before figuring out where to run him next. McLaughlin said one possibility is the Grade 2, $250,000 Woody Stephens at Belmont on June 5.