Strapping Groom to be freshened, will point for Saratoga

Strapping Groom, fifth in the Grade 1 Carter in his last start, will get some time off before returning to take aim at a repeat victory in the Grade 1 Forego Handicap at Saratoga, trainer David Jacobson said.

With victories in the Gravesend and Grade 3 Tom Fool over the winter, Strapping Groom entered the Carter in top form. But Jacobson said there were signs the morning of the race that he might not bring his ‘A’ game.

“The morning of the race he was quiet and he was just not himself,” Jacobson said. “The night before he couldn’t get in the stall, he wanted to kill you. The morning of the race he didn’t eat his breakfast. I really can’t put a finger on it.”

Jacobson said he would give Strapping Groom 60 to 90 days off before plotting out a campaign to get him to the Forego, a race he won last year at odds of 15-1.

“Right now were pointing at the Forego,” Jacobson said. “We’ll give him whatever time he needs.”