Travers favorite Tapwrit gallops Thursday morning

Tapwrit, the 7-2 favorite for Saturday's Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers presented by NYRA Bets, galloped on the Oklahoma training track Thursday morning. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Tapwrit, getting ready for his first start since winning the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, is in good order and that both he and stablemate Always Dreaming will paddock school later in the day.

Always Dreaming, the Kentucky Derby winner, drew post 7 in the 12-horse Travers field and is 6-1 on the morning line. Tapwrit will break from post 4.

"He had a good gallop and he's doing well," Pletcher said. "They'll both paddock school and that will pretty much be it. They'll gallop again tomorrow and we'll let them rest until the race."

Pletcher said his other entries on Travers Day - Eskenformoney for the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign, Distinta for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina, Coal Front for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and Tommy Macho for the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego - are "all systems go."

Coal Front enters the race formerly known as the King's Bishop looking to build on his 3-for-3 start, including a 1 ½-length score in his stakes debut in capturing the Grade 2 Amsterdam on July 29 at the Spa. The Stay Thirsty colt will break from post 7 in the nine-horse race contested at seven furlongs.

"The fact that he ran well here is encouraging and he's been training here and looking good," Pletcher said. "Obviously, this is his biggest test so far."

Coal Front will have the services of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

"The stretch out to seven shouldn't be an issue, he drew well and it seems like he's outside the other speed," Pletcher said. "American Anthem has speed as well, but I don't think he's looking to go super quick early. I think it's a pretty tough race. I would imagine Takaful will be showing speed from the inside. I think the main thing is for Johnny to let him get in a comfortable rhythm and I would imagine that would be in a stalking-type position and hopefully he can keep coming forward."

Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Destin won his first start in nearly three months, holding off Donegal Moon by a nose to win an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles Wednesday. The 2016 Belmont Stakes runner-up previously ran third in an optional claimer on May 28 at Belmont Park.

"He looked good; we were just hoping to get him back on track and see a positive effort from him, which we got," Pletcher said. "Hopefully now that will lead to some bigger races down the road. It's a little early to pinpoint anything. We want to see how some things develop. He has common ownership with Tapwrit, so some of it will depend on how he does."