Pavel to fly east again for Whitney Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – The road warrior Pavel will again be traveling, as he will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 4, trainer Doug O’Neill said Wednesday.

Pavel ended a six-race losing streak with an authoritative 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 16. Though based in Southern California, Pavel has, in 10 races, run at Saratoga, Parx, Belmont, Meydan, and Churchill in addition to Santa Anita and Del Mar.

“He ships so well, he’s one of those rare horses who, if possible, runs even better away from home than he does at home,” O’Neill said Wednesday from California.

Pavel won his debut last July at Santa Anita and then four weeks later was taking on Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness winner Cloud Computing in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. He was battling for the lead turning for home, but finished fourth behind Good Samaritan and lost a photo for third to Always Dreaming. Out of that race, he won the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx by six lengths.

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Pavel has made six of his last seven starts in Grade 1 stakes, finally breaking through in the Stephen Foster.

“I do think Pavel ran a race Stephen Foster Night that kind of gave us the feeling he’s back to where we thought he was at one time,” O’Neill said. “On his best day, he deserves a chance at the best dirt horses around.”

O’Neill said Pavel was scheduled to breeze Friday at Santa Anita before shipping to Del Mar on Monday. He would have time for two breezes at Del Mar before shipping to Saratoga.

Others being pointed to the Whitney include Mind Your Biscuits and Backyard Heaven.