SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Stablemates Forte and Tapit Trice worked a half-mile together Thursday morning in 48.61 seconds over Saratoga’s main track as both prepare for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26. With Forte on the outside under Irad Ortiz Jr., the pair went their first quarter in 24.61 seconds, their final quarter in 24.00, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.87, six furlongs in 1:14.51, and seven furlongs in 1:27.21. “Just looking for what we did, good half, strong gallop-out from both, very pleased with the way they looked, the way there moving,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who moved the work up by one day for fear of the potential of a wet track on Friday. Forte did not work in blinkers, equipment he wore for the first time in winning the Jim Dandy on July 29. Pletcher said Forte will wear blinkers in the race. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. “I was a little concerned working those two together. I didn’t want to go too fast,” Pletcher said. “They seemed like logical mates pointing for the same race. I thought with blinkers on we might do too much.” Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion, would have to be considered the leader of the 3-year-old division with victories in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, and Grade 2 Jim Dandy, and a runner-up finish in the Belmont Stakes. Tapit Trice, who won the Grade 1 Blue Grass, has since finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Belmont, and fifth in the Haskell. Tapit Trice will need a new rider in the Travers. He had been ridden by Luis Saez, but Saez has been named to ride Mage, the Kentucky Derby, winner in the Travers. Pletcher said that Jose Ortiz and Flavien Prat are the leading candidates. Prat rode Tapit Trice to a third-place finish in his first start. Prat is available because Angel of Empire, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby and Jim Dandy, will not run in the Travers and will be aimed at a 4-year-old campaign. “We’re going to give him a break,” Jason Loutsch, racing manager for Albaugh Racing Stable texted. Earlier this year, Angel of Empire won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and Grade 2 Risen Star. Also bypassing the Travers is Il Miracolo, who will be pointed to the Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx on Aug. 21, trainer Antonio Sano said Thursday. As of Thursday, the prospective Travers field, with riders, is: Arcangelo (Javier Castellano), Disarm (Joel Rosario), Forte (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Mage (Luis Saez), National Treasure (John Velazquez), Reincarnate (Juan Hernandez), Scotland (Junior Alvarado), Skinner (Mike Smith), and Tapit Trice (TBD). Nest works for Personal Ensign Just prior to Forte and Tapit Trice breezing, Nest, dominant winner of the Grade 2 Shuvee in her 4-year-old debut, worked a half-mile in 49.41 seconds, galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.09, six furlongs in 1:15.13, and seven furlongs in 1:28.68. Nest, last year’s 3-year-old filly champion, worked in company with the 3-year-old maiden filly Sister Maha. :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  “Excellent, strong gallop-out, recovered quickly, good breeze,” Pletcher said. Also working Thursday toward the Personal Ensign was Played Hard, who went five furlongs in 1:00.05 over the main track. Played Hard, winner of the Grade 1 La Troienne in May, worked in company with the stakes-placed Warrior Johnny. “We missed some time with her, so we needed a work like that to figure out where we’re at with our target,” trainer Phil Bauer told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “This work was intended to give her a deep blow and we accomplished that. We’ll see how she bounces out and go from there.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.