Mr. Money 'leaning toward' West Virginia Derby over Travers
In many respects when campaigning horses, trainer Bret Calhoun and owner Chester Thomas think alike. One similarity in particular may play a part in determining whether the talented 3-year-old Mr. Money appears next in the Aug. 3 West Virginia Derby (G3) or Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (G1).
Calhoun said Mr. Money, who won the Indiana Derby (G3) last out on July 13, is scheduled for his first workout since then on Friday morning at Churchill Downs. Connections will see how the colt exits his breeze Saturday, plus assess the results of Saratoga’s Jim Dandy and Monmouth Park’s Haskell Invitational (G1) that will add to the Travers’ prospective field.
“I’d say at this point, if we’re leaning any way, we’re leaning toward the West Virginia Derby a little bit, but we haven’t made that decision,” Calhoun said.
That’s because both Calhoun and Thomas, who runs horses under the Allied Racing banner, find it more fun to celebrate winning a $500,000 race than to hit the wire anywhere but first in a $1.25 million event like the Travers.
“Going to a Grade 1 and getting your butt kicked is no fun,” Calhoun said. “I’m not saying that would happen, but I just think if you put yourself in a position to win, that’s a lot funner than going up against insurmountable odds sometimes.
“There’s nothing wrong with running for $500,000 purses and putting that money in the bank. Not to say it’s automatic, but obviously you know you’re going in there as one of the favorites.”
Mr. Money’s in this position after winning three straight Grade 3 races once done with the Kentucky Derby trail: the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard, the Matt Winn Stakes and the Indiana Derby, in which he scored by 2 1/2 lengths over Gray Magician as an odds-on favorite.
Calhoun said he hasn’t pushed Mr. Money in training since the Indiana Derby, keeping in mind last week’s midwest heatwave. A combination of physical examination, evaluating training and bloodwork have put the 1 1/8-mile West Virginia Derby, Mountaineer’s signature race, in play.
“We’ve seen if he’s ready to come back in three weeks and run a top race,” Calhoun said. “So far, everything’s checked out.
“We let him see who he was today in some cool weather. He was really, really sharp this morning, and we’re expecting a really good work out of him tomorrow.”
If Mr. Money goes in the West Virginia Derby, he would likely size up as an odds-on choice to win. From there, a Grade 1 try may follow in Parx Racing's Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby.
Taking on the Travers means sending the son of Goldencents against the likes of Maximum Security, War of Will, Tacitus, Game Winner and Code of Honor, to name a few.
“I think as you move forward, the pressure mounts to take on those kind of horses for everybody,” Calhoun said. “Then for the horse, his reputation at some point in time, too, there are stallion-building races. Luckily, the owner hasn’t pressured me to do that. I think most of the time, by this point in a horse’s career, the owner probably would have pushed to take that shot in a Grade 1 because of the money involved and stallion careers. It’s always on my mind, but Chester’s made it very easy for me not to feel that added pressure.
“… We look forward to running this horse the rest of the year. We look forward to running him next year. So we’re not looking at it as a one-race type of situation. We’re hoping to have him around for a long time.”