Mission Approved Has Options

Owner-trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul and his former claimer and Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap winner Mission Approved traveled 200 miles early this morning for a workout over the Oklahoma turf course. With jockey Jose Espinoza aboard, the 7-year-old horse breezed five furlongs in a quick 57.70 seconds.

“I had no choice but to bring him to Saratoga early this morning because they are repairing the Belmont turf course,” Chatterpaul said. “I really cannot work him on the dirt. He worked good this morning. I didn’t really want him to go that fast, but he did it by himself. He’s going back to Belmont and we’ll decide where to go from here.”

One of Chatterpaul’s options is the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga on Saturday, August 13. Others on the Sword Dancer Invitation list include Al Khali, Bim Bam, Boisterous, Dark Cove, Drosselmeyer, Free Fighter, Gio Ponti, Juniper Pass, Mambo Meister, Rahy’s Attorney, Stacelita, Teaks North, and Winchester.