Wicked Strong puts in solid Travers work

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The news that Haskell Invitational winner Bayern was coming for the Travers didn’t necessarily bring a smile to the face of Jimmy Jerkens, the trainer of Jim Dandy Stakes winner Wicked Strong.

The way Wicked Strong worked Friday morning did.

Wicked Strong stepped up preparations for his meeting with Bayern and Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist in the $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23 by working a solid half-mile in 48.62 seconds Friday over the Oklahoma training track. Under regular exercise rider Kelvin Pahal, Wicked Strong, equipped with the thin-cupped blinkers he wore for the first time in the Jim Dandy, went his first quarter in 24.51 seconds and his second quarter in 24.11. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.65.

“He’s good,” Jerkens said. “He’s got pretty good flesh; he’s eating good. That’s a good work for him on a deep-ish track.”

Jerkens elected to work Wicked Strong on Friday over the training track as opposed to the main track because he said he didn’t want Wicked Strong to “overdo it” for the first breeze back. Next week, Wicked Strong will work over the main track.

In the Jim Dandy, Wicked Strong was right up on the pace. With Bayern in the field, tactics might change for the Travers.

“We’ll be further off the pace, that’s all, I guess,” Jerkens said when asked what the presence of Bayern means.

Jerkens also plans to run Curlin Stakes winner V. E. Day in the Travers. On Thursday, V. E. Day worked a half-mile in 50.50 seconds.

“The fact that he improves dramatically each time might make you think he might be able to do it,” Jerkens said. “A mile and a quarter is a tough distance.”