Sano says Travers ultimate goal for Gunnevera

Trainer Antonio Sano said Thursday the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Aug. 26 is the ultimate goal for multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera, who will not venture to the Upstate New York track for the July 29 Jim Dandy (G2).

“We will look for a race at Gulfstream first and then the Travers,” Sano said between races at Gulfstream Park. “He won’t run in the Jim Dandy.”

Gunnevera hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico May 20. The son of Dialed In has breezed four times since his last start, including back-to-back bullet five-furlong breezes in 1:00 the past two weeks. He is scheduled to breeze again at Gulfstream Park West Saturday.

“He’s training really good. I’m very happy,” Sano said.

Peacock Racing Stables’ 3-year-old colt, who concluded his juvenile campaign with a victory in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3), finished second in the Holy Bull (G3), won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and finished third behind Always Dreaming in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream this year before placing seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and fifth in the Preakness.

Undefeated in two starts over the Gulfstream Park turf course, My Girl Corey is scheduled to return from New York for Saturday’s $50,000 Treasure Coast Handicap.

The 4-year-old daughter of Warrior’s Reward, who captured back-to-back victories during last winter’s Championship Meet for trainer Chad Brown, is set to make her debut for trainer Ralph Nicks in the mile turf handicap that drew a strong field of 14 fillies and mares.

My Girl Corey, who is owned by Head of Plains Partners and Long Lake Stable, followed up her Gulfstream wins with a third-place finish at Tampa Bay in the $100,000 Distaff Turf for Florida-bred fillies and mares April 2, when she closed from 10 lengths back to finish a half-length behind graded-stakes winner Family Meeting.

The Florida-bred filly returned to Belmont Park and from a two-month layoff to finish fifth in an allowance race June 1 before moving to Nicks’ Gulfstream Park-based stable.