Fish Trappe Road fires another bullet for King's Bishop

Fish Trappe Road breezed four furlongs in 46.88 seconds over the Saratoga main track on Friday in preparation for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One King's Bishop on August 27. Trained by Bret Calhoun, Fish Trappe Road's bullet workout was the fastest out of a group of 172.

"He's pointing toward the King's Bishop and he's really coming into his own," said Chris Sankar, assistant to Calhoun. "He's been a slow-developing horse. Every day he's been better than the last. We didn't think he went that fast [yesterday.] We all looked at our watches thinking it was wrong. He's just looking to be that kind of horse."

Fish Trappe Road will be making his first start since winning his first stakes in the Grade 3 Dwyer on July 9 at Belmont Park, in which he registered a career-high 97 Beyer Speed Figure. Martin Racing Stable's 3-year-old colt finished second to Tom's Ready in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 11. He will now be coming off a six-week layoff before his first career Grade 1 start.

"The Dwyer was kind of rushed, we felt it was a little too soon after the Woody Stephens," Sankar said. "This is a Grade 1, so have to make it count."

Fish Trappe Road, who sold for $140,000 as a yearling, has won two of his four races this year in addition to his close finish in the Woody Stephens. He will be returning to the Spa, where he raced twice in maiden special weights as a 2-year-old.

"He's just physically and mentally more developed from last year," Sankar said. "He's just a playful colt."

Source: NYRA Communications