Triple Crown Tracker: Cyberknife, Nest take starring roles
Though Cyberknife finished only 18th in the Kentucky Derby, he has bounced back to show the promise that his smart Arkansas Derby (G1) victory revealed. He won the Matt Winn (G3) by a hard-fought nose June 12, and then set a track record July 23 when winning the Haskell Invitational (G1) by a head over Taiba, who ran 12th in the Run for the Roses. White Abarrio, making his second start since finishing 16th in the Kentucky Derby, finished seventh in the Haskell.
Looking ahead to the Jim Dandy (G2) on Saturday, four Kentucky Derby entrants are expected in the premier local prep for the Travers (G1). Epicenter, Zandon, Tawny Port and Ethereal Road all are expected in the Saratoga starting gate.
| Derby | Horse | Last Race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rich Strike | 6th, Belmont Stakes (G1) | Worked 4f July 9 at Mercury Equine Center |
| 2 | Epicenter | 2nd, Preakness (G1) | Worked 4f July 25 at Saratoga |
| 3 | Zandon | 3rd, Kentucky Derby (G1) | Worked 5f July 23 at Saratoga |
| 4 | Simplification | 6th, Preakness (G1) | Worked 5f July 23 at Gulfstream Park |
| 5 | Mo Donegal | 1st, Belmont Stakes (G1) | Sidelined with bone bruising |
| 6 | Barber Road | 7th, Belmont Stakes (G1) | No works since last race |
| 7 | Tawny Port | 1st, Ohio Derby (G3) | Worked 5f July 24 at Saratoga |
| 8 | Smile Happy | 8th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 9 | Tiz the Bomb | 9th, Belmont Derby (G1) | Worked 4f July 23 at Saratoga |
| 10 | Zozos | 10th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 11 | Classic Causeway | 1st, Belmont Derby (G1) | Worked 4f July 22 at Saratoga on turf |
| 12 | Taiba | 2nd, Haskell Invitational (G1) | No works since last race |
| 13 | Crown Pride (JPN) | 13th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 14 | Happy Jack | 1st, Allowance Optional Claiming (June 19, CD) | Worked 5f July 19 at Keeneland |
| 15 | Messier | 15th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | Worked 4f June 18 at Santa Anita |
| 16 | White Abarrio | 7th, Haskell Invitational (G1) | No works since last race |
| 17 | Charge It | 1st, Dwyer S. (G3) | Possible for Travers (G1) Aug. 27 |
| 18 | Cyberknife | 1st, Haskell Invitational (G1) | No works since last race |
| 19 | Pioneer of Medina | 19th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | Worked 5f July 15 at Belmont Park |
| 20 | Summer Is Tomorrow | 20th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| SCR | Ethereal Road | 6th, Ohio Derby (G3) | Worked 4f July 23 at Saratoga |
| SCR | Rattle N Roll | 7th, Indiana Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
Secret Oath returned to the races in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 23 for the first time since finishing fourth in the Preakness. Briefly, approaching the head of the stretch, it looked like Secret Oath and Nest would engage in the hoped-for stretch duel. Nest soon took over all alone, though Secret Oath chased on to hold second, 12 1/4 lengths behind the winner.
Early Voting has yet to race since the Preakness, but he has been working regularly in New York. He is expected to return Saturday in the Jim Dandy.
| Preakness | Horse | Last Race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Voting | 1st, Preakness (G1) | Worked 5f July 23 at Saratoga |
| 2 | Epicenter | 2nd, Preakness (G1) | Worked 4f July 25 at Saratoga |
| 3 | Creative Minister | 5th, Belmont (G1) | Worked 5f July 23 at Saratoga |
| 4 | Secret Oath | 2nd, Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) | Worked 5f July 15 at Saratoga |
| 5 | Skippylongstocking | 3rd, Belmont (G1) | Worked 5f July 24 at Saratoga |
| 6 | Simplification | 6th, Preakness (G1) | Worked 5f July 23 at Gulfstream Park |
| 7 | Armagnac | 7th, Preakness (G1) | Worked 5f July 4 at Santa Anita |
| 8 | Happy Jack | 1st, Allowance Optional Claiming (June 19, CD) | Worked 5f July 19 at Keeneland |
| 9 | Fenwick | 9th, Preakness (G1) | Worked 5f July 22 at Churchill Downs |
After running second in the Belmont, Nest returned to face fillies in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 23 at Saratoga. She disputed the early pace, cleared Secret Oath near the quarter pole, and won by 12 1/4 lengths in a dazzling display. Her connections are leaning toward the Alabama (G1) for her next start, though they have not ruled out facing males again in the Travers.
Two other Belmont contenders, fifth-place Creative Minister and eighth-place Golden Glider, will rematch Friday at Saratoga. Both have entered the Curlin Stakes. Though the race is restricted to horses who have not won a graded stakes at a mile or more this year, it nonetheless often serves as a live local prep for the Travers, alongside the Jim Dandy.
| Belmont | Horse | Last Race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mo Donegal | 1st, Belmont (G1) | Sidelined with bone bruising |
| 2 | Nest | 1st, Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) | No works since last race |
| 3 | Skippylongstocking | 3rd, Belmont (G1) | Worked 5f July 24 at Saratoga |
| 4 | We the People | 4th, Belmont (G1) | Worked 6f July 23 at WinStar Training Center |
| 5 | Creative Minister | 5th, Belmont (G1) | Entered in Curlin Stakes July 29 at Saratoga |
| 6 | Rich Strike | 6th, Belmont (G1) | Worked 4f July 9 at Mercury Equine Center |
| 7 | Barber Road | 7th, Belmont (G1) | No works since last race |
| 8 | Golden Glider | 8th, Belmont (G1) | Worked 4f July 20 at Saratoga |