Transparent Travers Bound Despite Curlin DQ

"We missed out on the money, but he ran great," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "Our team did a great job of getting him ready. Nice horse. It was a great race coming off 112 days. It's a blow, but on the other hand, he's a very nice horse, so we'll point toward the Travers hopefully."

In the Curlin, Transparent, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., moved out on the turn and crossed in front of Proud Strike, who clipped heels, stumbled, and lost all chance.

"It was a rider error - he made a mistake; everybody makes mistakes," said McLaughlin. "It was a matter of inches. If he waits another stride or two and then comes out, he's fine. It was unlucky."

On Saturday morning, McLaughlin sent out Alpha, co-winner of the 2012 Travers in a dead-heat with Golden Ticket, for a five-furlong breeze on the main track in preparation for a possible start in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap. NYRA clockers caught the 4-year-old traveling the distance in 1:00.25.

"That was his best work this year," said McLaughlin. "It was really nice to see. He loves it up here. He likes it up here on the main track. We're happy.

"Most likely we'll be running [in the Whitney]," he continued. "We'll look at the weights and see who's running. There's an overnight stakes we are nominated to on Friday [the 1 1/8-mile Birdstone] that's a possibility. We'll see."