Tonalist, Wicked Strong lead Travers workers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Led by Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and Jim Dandy winner Wicked Strong, four of the 10 horses expected to compete in next Saturday’s $1.25 million Travers Stakes put in timed workouts Saturday morning at Saratoga.

A fifth horse, Coltimus Prime, worked in hopes of running in the Travers, but his connections didn’t like what they saw and have removed the Prince of Wales Stakes winner from consideration for the race.

Tonalist, who was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Wicked Strong in the Jim Dandy, worked with his customary workmate Life in Shambles. Usually, Tonalist begins the work a couple of lengths in front and Life in Shambles comes to him at the wire and the two gallop out together.

Saturday, Tonalist began the work two lengths in front of Life in Shambles and Tonalist kept that same margin through a five-furlong move in 1:01.88 with a final eighth in 12.96 seconds.

“Nice work, a touch more aggressive than last week,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “To me, the horse is very, very fit. We’ll just see how he comes out of his work, try to keep him happy, keep him sound, and run him next Saturday.”

Though defeated in the Jim Dandy, Clement didn’t feel his horse ran poorly.

“I don’t think he ran a bad race, he just got beat,” Clement said. “I’m looking forward to the Travers, I’m looking forward to the mile and a quarter, I’m looking forward to the pace scenario. I’m very excited.”

Part of the pace could be provided by Wicked Strong, who, equipped with blinkers for the first time, pressed the pace en route to winning the Jim Dandy on July 27. On Saturday, he worked six furlongs in 1:13.05, going his first three furlongs in 36.77 seconds. Exercise rider Kelvin Pahal just sat on Wicked Strong through the lane as he got his last three furlongs in 36.28 seconds. Wicked Strong galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.10 and pulled up a mile in 1:42.69.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens watched the work from the quarter pole. Before the move he told Pahal to look over at him for instructions when he got to the quarter pole.

“I said, ‘If I wave you on, don’t go crazy on him but knuckle on him a little bit,’ but I thought he was going fast enough so he just sat on him the rest of the way,” Jerkens said. “That was all on his own. We weren’t looking for anything too fast; we didn’t want to go too fast with the blinkers. I thought it was just right.”

Noting how hot Wicked Strong got before the Jim Dandy, Jerkens said he would likely train Wicked Strong more frequently this week over the main track to get him more accustomed him to his surroundings.

“It’ll be an awful long post parade on Travers Day. He got awful hot last time, he was able to get away with it,” Jerkens said.”It was a crowded Saturday, but not like it’s going to be on Travers Day.”

Commanding Curve, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Jim Dandy, worked a solid five furlongs in 1:00.61 over the main track in company with Perfect Title.

“He’s not a superstar workhorse by any means but that was a very good work,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He’s well prepared I think.”

Charge Now, the half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, worked five furlongs 1:01.51 in company with the Grade 1-winning older horse Lea. Charge Now started about three lengths behind Lea and finished a half length behind.

Others pointing to the Travers are Bayern, Kid Cruz, Mr Speaker, Ulanbator, V.E. Day, and Viva Majorca.

Coltimus Prime worked five furlongs in 1:05.08 Saturday morning over the Saratoga main track. Trainer Justin Nixon said the horse “went a little bit slow” and that he will pass the Travers.

The draw for the Travers Stakes will take place Tuesday night at a downtown Saratoga restaurant called Druthers at 6 p.m.