Destin continues to train forwardly ahead of Travers 2016
Twin Creeks Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partner's Destin has continued to train forwardly ahead of his anticipated bid in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 27, said trainer Todd Pletcher on Wednesday morning.
Runner-up of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, Destin finished third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy in his last start on July 30. The Giant's Causeway 3-year-old worked four furlongs in 48.87 seconds in his August 12 breeze on the main track. He is expected to turn in his final breeze for the race on Friday, Pletcher said, although the trainer added that he isn't sure if Destin will breeze on the main or Oklahoma training track.
"I haven't decided [which track yet], we're going to play it by ear depending on how the surfaces play out this week and the weather," Pletcher said.
Travers Day could be an exciting one for Pletcher stable, as Curalina targets the Grade 1, $750,000 Personal Ensign. The 4-year-old chestnut filly is coming off a win in the Grade 3 Shuvee on July 31 at the Spa. Mei Ling, the fourth-place finisher in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap on July 16, is also a possibility for the Personal Ensign.
Anchor Down is being pointed towards the Grade 1, $700,000 Priority One Jets Forego. The 5-year-old son of Tapit followed a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap with a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 30.
Pletcher also said Stopchargingmaria is a possibility for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina.
Sweet Loretta will work either Thursday or Friday as she prepares for the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway on September 3. The 2-year-old Tapit filly is 2-for-2 in her career, including a win in her graded stakes debut with a 4 ΒΌ-length score in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on July 22.
Comfort remains a possibility for the Grade 1, $600,00 Woodward on September 3, but Pletcher said he remains open to waiting until racing resumes at Belmont Park to start the Indian Charlie 3-year-old bay colt. Comfort finished second to Frosted by two lengths in his Grade 1 debut in the Whitney on August 6.
"We're still thinking about it," Pletcher said. "We're happy with the way he came out of the Whitney. We're still weighing our options between here and waiting on Belmont. He's 2-for-2 at Belmont so he seems to like the track there, so that's something we're considering as well. We'll see how he does and get a line on how the Woodward is going to come together."
Source: NYRA Communications