Travers entrant Girvin continues to train well

Girvin continues to train well for trainer Joe Sharp at Saratoga's Oklahoma training track. The son of Tale of Ekati jogged on Thursday morning. According to his conditioner, the second-leading money earner in Saturday's Grade 1 Travers presented by NYRA Bets will gallop on Friday morning on the main track.

Owner Brad Grady has had an exciting year thus far as an owner and pinhooker of thoroughbreds. His orange and black colors have raced at the Kentucky Derby and won a pair of million-dollar races with his stable star - Fair Grounds' Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and Monmouth Park's Grade 1 Haskell Invitational - and a victory by Girvin on Saturday could have year-end championship implications.

"The horse is doing really well and we feel pretty good going into the race," Grady said. "In my opinion, it's the toughest field he's faced, but he's really become a man over the last few months. We're dealing with a better animal and he's really grown and matured. 

"It's also been an incredible season for my family, my farm and my trainer," he continued. "We've had a stellar year. In addition to Girvin, we also had pinhooked [fellow Travers entrant and three-time graded stakes-winning millionaire] Irap and he's done incredibly well. It's kind of unparalleled."

Pinhooking is the main game of Grand Oaks, Grady's Texas-based farm and operation, but Grady has experienced ample returns in racing. Girvin was originally slated to be pinhooked after his $130,000 purchase, but an injury prevented him from being entered in a breeze-up sale in April 2016. 

The fashionably-bred Irap, on the other hand, turned over a nice profit when the half-brother to champion and top sire Speightstown brought $300,000 at Ocala's March sale. The irony of Grady's success came in the final stride of the June 24 Grade 3 Ohio Derby, in which Irap got up to beat Girvin by the slimmest of noses. 

"You always want horses you sell to do well," Grady said. "I'm glad Irap has become a top horse and it was a tough loss in the Ohio Derby. I think Girvin did all he could do in that race and he ran his race. I still can't believe we lost, but that's okay. Hopefully we beat him in the Travers.