Endorsed passes distance test; Travers Stakes next?
Following up on a distance test for which connections could award a passing grade, Kiaran McLaughlin on Saturday stopped short of committing Endorsed to next month’s Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes. But the trainer said the Aug. 24 race will go under consideration after the colt finished second by 1 1/2 lengths in Saratoga’s Curlin Stakes.
Under jockey Joe Bravo, the Godolphin homebred was making his two turn debut and stretching out from a June 23 return to the races, when he prevailed in a Belmont Park allowance event at six furlongs.
“Testing the distance out to see if he could handle nine furlongs off one six-furlong race this year was a tall order — a tall task,” McLaughlin said. “He ran really, really well. We’re proud of him.
“He came back great — happy and was not that tired. Where we go from here, I’m not sure.”
McLaughlin anticipated a conversation with Jimmy Bell, head of Godolpin’s U.S. operations, about next race spots that include the 1 1/4-mile Travers.
Connections have believed the son of Medaglia d’Oro, who’s out of a Tapit mare, sports the pedigree to go classic distances. However, Endorsed remains light on experience having taken more than eight months away from the races after two starts as a juvenile.
Chasing the pace set by Chad Brown-trained Curlin Stakes favorite Looking at Bikinis, Endorsed drove into the far turn Friday wide, with the rail known to be slow over a wet, sealed surface. Highest Honors, another trained by Brown, arrived with an outside challenge, and the two made it a match race in the Saratoga stretch.
“It was a big question if he would be able to step up to this level or not,” Bravo said, “and look what he did. He fought all the way down the lane. I can't wait to see his next race.”
Highest Honors is expected to head to the Travers, while Brown could also try Looking at Bikinis again after he ran against the track’s bias on Friday. Entering a Saturday slate of races that includes the Jim Dandy (G2) — sure to have an impact on the prospective Travers field — here’s an early look at contenders: