Pletcher on the fence about Forte's Travers prep

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher seems genuinely torn where next to run Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion who ran a game second in the Belmont Stakes last month off a 10-week layoff.

While the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga would give Forte an additional week from the Belmont and a race over the track where the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers will be run on Aug. 26, the Haskell on July 22 at Monmouth Park is a Grade 1 and worth $1 million.

Complicating matters is how well Forte appears to be training. On Friday, he had his second workout since the Belmont, going a half-mile in 49.94 seconds over the Belmont training track, according to Daily Racing Form.

:: Get Belmont Park Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte got his final quarter in 24.25 and proceeded to gallop out five furlongs in 1:02.59, six furlongs in 1:14.09, and seven furlongs in 1:27.16. He worked in company with Grade 1 winner Chocolate Gelato.

“Very good,” Pletcher said. “His gallop-out was deceivingly fast. His energy level is good. The way he’s training makes me think he could be ready [for the Haskell] and that gives me an extra week” to the Travers.

Forte was scheduled to ship to Saratoga on Saturday morning and would have time for one more work should he run in the Haskell and two more should he wait for the Jim Dandy.

Tapit Trice, the Grade 1 Blue Grass winner who was third in the Belmont Stakes, did not work Friday. He could potentially work Saturday.

Nest, last year’s 3-year-old champion filly, worked five furlongs in 1:02, according to track clockers. Pletcher said she remains on schedule for the Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee on July 23 at Saratoga.

◗ Among the other notable workers on Friday at Belmont Park was In Italian, who went five furlongs over the turf in 59.66 in preparation for the Grade 1 Diana on July 16 at Saratoga.

In Italian has won four Grade 1 stakes from her last five starts, a streak that began with her victory in last year’s Diana.

◗ Bubble Rock was impressive working a half-mile in 47.72 on Friday morning over the Belmont turf. She is pointing to the Grade 3, $200,000 Caress on July 22 at Saratoga.

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