Velazquez rides Vino Rosso over Wonder Gadot in Travers 2018

Vino Rosso put in his final tune-up for the 2018 Travers Stakes on Friday morning at Saratoga, covering four furlongs in 49.02 seconds before light rain showers began.

Taking to the main track after the break with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, Vino Rosso worked in company with 2017 Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit. Mike Repole and St. Elias Stable's Vino Rosso ran inside of Tapwrit, and "worked very well, enthusiastic, and galloped out nicely,'' said trainer Todd Pletcher. "It was the work I was hoping he'd put in before the Travers."

Vino Rosso comes into the 1 ¼-mile Travers off a third-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 2 Jim Dandy at the Spa on July 28. In that race, the chestnut son of Curlin got off to a slow start but closed strongly and missed by a head of finishing second.

Trainer Mark Casse said an announcement regarding Wonder Gadot's jockey assignment is expected on Monday and mentioned Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Florent Geroux, and Tyler Gaffalione as possibilities.

Velazquez has been aboard for all eight of Vino Rosso's races, and said the colt "always shows great talent, but sometimes doesn't put it into races."

Vino Rosso won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial and was considered among the Kentucky Derby top contenders, but never really had a chance in the Run for the Roses, where he finished ninth. In the Belmont, he appeared to move into contention as the field came out of the final turn but wound up fourth behind Triple Crown winner Justify.

Vino Rosso has three wins and two thirds in eight starts for earnings of $792,500.

Meanwhile, with exercise rider Chris Galloway aboard, the Casse-trained Wonder Gadot worked solo over the main track before 6 a.m., breezing in a swift 47.60 seconds, the fastest of 67 at the distance. Wonder Gadot covered the first quarter-mile in 23.81 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.66, according to NYRA clockers.

"Now, you want to have an easy week and hope everything goes smoothly," he added. "This is our lives: you get them to a point where they're ready and now you're sitting and waiting."

The work was her second at Saratoga since winning the Prince of Wales by 5 ¾ lengths over males on July 24 at Fort Erie, the second leg of Canada's Triple Crown. The 3-year-old Ontario-bred filly by Medaglia d'Oro won the first leg with similar ease, taking the 1 ¼-mile Queen's Plate by 4 ¾ lengths on June 30 over Woodbine's Tapeta course.