Trigger Warning to 'run his own race' in Pennsylvania Derby

Sending Trigger Warning out for his first Grade 1 start in the Travers Stakes, trainer Michael Rone wanted the colt to rate, save ground and sit a few lengths off the lead entering the stretch. Then, he thought, there would be energy in reserve to swing wide and run.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans.

Midway through the race, Gronkowski rushed up from behind Trigger Warning, and contact jarred a shoe lose. Then in the stretch, the colt's momentum was halted by fading runners.

Rone “most definitely” thinks his horse was eligible for a placing in the Midsummer Derby, and he’s giving Trigger Warning, a son of Candy Ride, another chance at the top level in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. This time, the strategy is simple.

“I’m going to let this colt fall out of there and run his own race this time,” Rone said.

On paper, the race lacks a need-the-lead type of contender, though last-out West Virginia Derby (G3) winner took that race on the front end. Trigger Warning could be right with him going nine furlongs at Parx Racing, where Rone considers his charge a live 20-1 longshot.

Blinkers will come off Trigger Warning, who’s campaigned by Brinley Enterprises. Jockey Irwin Rosendo gets the return call breaking from the ninth post position in a field of 10.

“After it all unfolded in New York, he galloped out like a man,” Rone said. “I kind of second guessed myself going a mile and a quarter the first time. We tried to rate this horse and make sure we had plenty down the lane. He was plenty fit enough to pace on out there.”

Trigger Warning was away at 79-1 in a 10-horse Travers and managed sixth. Two starts back, Axelrod, another Pennsylvania Derby rival, caught him the final strides of the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby (G3) with Trigger Warning at 6-1. Three back, he lit up the board when third in the Ohio Derby at 86-1.

Trigger Warning has made 13 starts, and Rone suggested after Saturday’s race he could back off on the training load.

“There’s a lot of options with this horse, and I’m going to try the grass one time,” said Rone, who saddled Trigger Warning for a stakes win on Presque Isle’s All Weather Track earlier this year, too. I think he’s a very versatile horse. When a horse can run, it doesn’t make no difference if it’s going down a blacktop road.”