The Puma has serious Travers work; Renegade goes nice and easy
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SARATOGA SPRINGS,N.Y. – The workouts were dissimilar in nature, but both served the purpose for trainers Gustavo Delgado and Todd Pletcher as they prepare their 3-year-olds The Puma and Renegade for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Delgado wanted a serious workout from The Puma and got it, as the Tampa Bay Derby winner drilled five furlongs in 59.80 seconds under Javier Castellano on Friday morning over the Saratoga’s main track. He got his last quarter in 23.89 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.56, seven furlongs in 1:25.38, and a mile in 1:38.91. It was his second, and strongest, move since he finished fourth in the Haskell on July 18.
“He needed a strong work today after the Haskell,” Delgado said. “My impression is that he’s very happy in Saratoga. No more travel, no more shipping. We only have to go across the road. The horse is content.”
The Puma was at Gulfstream Park this winter, but he made two ships to Tampa Bay Downs and then, after getting beat a nose in the Florida Derby, he shipped to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby where he was scratched the morning of the race due to an issue with his hock. He shipped back to Florida and then to New Jersey for the Haskell, a race run over sloppy track. The Puma shipped to Saratoga on July 19, the day after the Haskell.
Delgado reiterated his belief that The Puma didn’t like the sloppy track at Monmouth.
Delgado said The Puma will have one more, much easier type of workout next week.
About 75 minutes earlier, Renegade, winner of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here Aug. 1, worked an easy half-mile in 50.74 in company with recent 3-year-old allowance winner Sassmaster. Working on the outside of that horse, Renegade went his first quarter in 25.71, his second quarter in 25.03. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.57.
“I like the way the horse is training,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “His energy level is good, he jumped on the bridle going to the pole, stayed on cruise control, seemed happy doing it.”
The work was done just 13 days after Renegade’s half-length victory in the Jim Dandy. Pletcher said he is happy with how Renegade came out of the Jim Dandy, especially compared with his previous two races – his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.
“He came out of this race way, way better than he did the Derby and the Belmont,” Pletcher said. “His energy level right away was good, his appetite’s been good, his enthusiasm. I’m pretty happy with the way he’s bounced out of it.”
As of Friday, there are at least 11 horses under consideration for the Travers, led by Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo. Renegade, Baby Vino, Sea Strike, Silent Tactic, The Puma, Leading Change, and Emerging Market are considered definite. Napoleon Solo, Ocelli, and Commandment are still under consideration.
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