Travers 2017 contender Girvin continues to impress Sharp

Grade 1 Haskell Invitational winner Girvin continued to impress in the mornings for trainer Joe Sharp and owner Brad Grady. A three-time graded stakes winner from seven lifetime starts, the son of Tale of Ekati galloped a lap on Saratoga's main track on Friday to acquaint himself with the surface over which he will run Saturday's Travers presented by NYRA Bets. The dark bay colt has been trained over the last month at the Oklahoma training track.

Five hours later, the earner of more than $1.5 million in purses schooled in the paddock and appeared calm and collected throughout the process. Occasionally prancing on his toes, he was mostly fluid through the process and failed to turn a proverbial hair.

"He's ready," Sharp said. "I mean, if you look at him [schooling], nothing's bothering him. I was going to put cotton in his ears, but I didn't think he needed it. He's the kind of horse you love to have in a race like this because he's all business. You don't worry about him acting up, you just have to get him ready to run.

"He's really feeling good. You can see it," he continued. "He's really grown and come into himself. You can see that he knows the race is coming and he's getting a little pumped up."

Win, lose or draw in the Travers, the $130,000 Fasig-Tipton October 2015 purchase has earned a "Win and You're In" automatic berth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic, thanks to his Haskell victory at Monmouth Park. Sharp indicated that he hopes to take advantage of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series opportunity.