Mendelssohn shows plenty of personality in Travers 2018 training

Grade 1 Travers Stakes entrant Mendelssohn and Grade 1 Sword Dancer contender Seaheange continued their preparations for their Saturday engagements, jogging and galloping over the main track Friday morning.

The Coolmore contingent left the quarantine barn in the Oklahoma annex around 7:15 a.m. to begin their lengthy walk across Union Avenue, stepping onto the main track's backstretch 15 minutes later. They trotted 1 ¼ circuits around the oval before turning around and breaking into their gallop on the first turn.

"We've done the same as yesterday," said T.J. Comerford, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien. "We did our 10-minute walk at the barn and it took, 10, 15 minutes to walk across. We generally do a 25-minute walk, anyway. They went to the main track and trotted the opposite direction, one lap, and then turned around at the 1,500, or the 7 ½ [furlong marker]. Today they went steady around there and pulled up just past the winning post. They came off the track, walked back home, had a good wash off, and walked around here for 20, 25 minutes."

Although Mendelssohn and Seahenge cleared quarantine at 6 a.m. yesterday, they are remaining in the quarantine barn by preference. The quarantine facility is the barn that's farthest from the main track, but Comerford said the distance helps Mendelssohn and Seahenge maintain their routine of having long walks before their gallops. 

"It's still the same time as at home, but it's actually better here," said Comerford. "Rather than walking around the barn all the time, making doughnuts, they can have a nice walk on the way over and they get to see plenty."

Mendelssohn and Seahenge are Scat Daddy colts owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith. Mendelssohn dominated the Group 2 UAE Derby in March, while Seahenge's top victory came in the Group 2 Champagne in England last September. They are exiting the same race, the Grade 3 Dwyer on July 7 at Belmont Park. Mendelssohn finished third after setting the pace while Seahenge was a non-threatening fifth.

Mendelssohn loudly announced his presence throughout his entire trip to and from the main track, providing intermittent neighs while on the horse path and the racing surface.

"He makes plenty of noise," said Comerford. "He did this at Belmont, but the only time he got noisy was when he got to the start. He was a lot better than he was the times before. He just does his own thing."

Although Mendelssohn and Seahenge have different temperaments, Comerford said the bay colts have similar physical profiles. 

"They are fine, big horses," said Comerford. "Scat Daddy stamps them well. He has plenty of Grade 1 winners. The ground doesn't matter. They just get on with it. They are not hard to train. We had Caravaggio, who was a very good sprinter and 2-year-old. They've had all kinds of conditions at home, good-to-firm, good ground, soft tracks. They are very nice horses."