McLaughlin Poised for Big Travers Day

Currently striking at 32 percent for the meet, the best percentage of any trainer in the top five, McLaughlin will hope to keep the momentum going after unveiling Jess's Dream on Monday at Saratoga. A son of two Horse of the Year honorees, Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, Jess's Dream came from as far as 18 lengths back to take a 1 1/8-mile maiden race by a length.

Frosted, installed as the 6-1 second choice on the morning line, will have to overcome two familiar foes in the Travers: American Pharoah and Texas Red. The gray son of Tapit met American Pharoah in the Derby and the Belmont during the Triple Crown winner's historic run, finishing fourth and second, respectively. Prepping for the Travers, Frosted encountered Texas Red in the Jim Dandy and finished second by a half-length after his rival got the jump on him.

"He couldn't be doing any better," McLaughlin said of Frosted, who he trains for Godolphin Racing. "We'll train him again tomorrow just to keep him in a routine. He went out the morning of the Derby and the Belmont, too."

McLaughlin will saddle two runners in the King's Bishop, multiple graded stakes-placed Classy Class and recent maiden winner Watershed.

Classy Class seemed to relish a return to sprinting after spending the early portion of the year on the Derby trail. The son of Discreetly Mine won his first career start by four lengths going 6 ½ furlongs, and has finished fourth in the Woody Stephens and won an optional claimer in his two most recent outings, both at seven furlongs.

A Godolphin homebred, Watershed is coming off a sensational four-length debut win on August 7 at the Spa, when he sat well off a contentious pace and steamrolled the field in the stretch of the six-furlong dash.

"It's another first for me, almost. Jess's Dream was a first. I figured it worked last week, so I'll try it again," said McLaughlin. "Watershed ran the fastest Rag [Ragozin] number that I've ever had for a first-time starter. To run back in 22 days isn't the norm, but the risk/reward was off the charts. We were going to run in an A-other-than in the middle of September but we switched to a Grade 1. I figured if he finishes second to sixth, we're still running in an A-other-than later. This is a Grade 1 and he's by Bernardini, so it helps Bernardini and him. We really like him and he's doing great, but it's a tough step up for a maiden."

In the Forego, McLaughlin will be represented by Tamarkuz, who finished fourth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap in his first North American start. The Shadwell Stable color-bearer entered the Met Mile having won four straight races in the United Arab Emirates, including three against graded competition, and was beaten seven lengths by Whitney winner Honor Code in the $1.25 million race.

"Tamarkuz is doing great," said McLaughlin. "He had run a lot in Dubai, so we gave him some time off after [the Met Mile]. We have good numbers running horses fresh, and he's ready to run."

Source: NYRA Communications