Skinner works for Travers try

Skinner, second in the Los Alamitos Derby July 8 in his first start in three months, worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Del Mar on Friday in preparation for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 26.

Skinner, who was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, worked in company with a stablemate who started in front.

“He wanted to finish,” trainer John Shirreffs said of Skinner. “Mike Smith came back very excited.

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“We’re a step closer.”

The $1.25 million Travers Stakes will be Skinner’s first start at 1 1/4 miles. In the Los Alamitos Derby, Skinner closed from fourth of five to finish 2 1/2 lengths behind Reincarnate, a candidate for the Travers trained by Bob Baffert.

Skinner was one of several notable works at Del Mar on Friday. Arabian Lion, trained by Baffert, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 26.

Arabian Lion won the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Belmont Park June 10.

Kangaroo Court, a stakes winner against California-breds at Santa Anita in April, worked five furlongs in 1:01 for the $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-old statebreds at seven furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 4.

Trained by Tim Yakteen, Kangaroo Court was 11th of 13 in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs on May 6.

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