Trainer Bob Baffert's GI Travers S. week began in earnest Monday, as Gary and Mary West's American Freedom (Pulpit) completed his final serious preparation for Saturday's Midsummer Derby with a five-furlong breeze in :59 flat in company with GI Ketel One King's Bishop prospect Jazzy Times (Discreetly Mine) at Del Mar. The pair will be joined by a pair of stablemates–Travers-bound Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) and King's Bishop contender Drefong (Gio Ponti)–on a Tex Sutton charter flight from California Wednesday.
Winner of the July 1 GIII Iowa Derby and a tough runner-up behind fellow Travers hopeful Exaggerator (Curlin) in the July 31 GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational, American Freedom pleased Baffert with his Monday morning move–as did Jazzy Times, recent winner of an optional claimer at Del Mar.
“They both worked great, everything went well and they're on schedule,” said Baffert.
The pair's work comes on day after Juddmonte Farms' Arrogate drilled six panels in 1:11.80 at Del Mar in company with Drefong, who was timed in 1:00.20 for five furlongs. Both colts have steadily ascended the class ladder with three consecutive wins at the allowance level, and will each make their respective stakes debuts Saturday.
Baffert has won both races previously, finding the winner's circle in the 2001 Travers with Point Given and the 1999 King's Bishop with Forestry. He most recently finished second in last year's Travers with Triple Crown hero American Phaorah (Pioneerof the Nile).
With as many as 15 horses possible for the centerpiece of the Saratoga meet, trainer Todd Pletcher has a sole contender for the race in GI Belmont S. runner-up and GII Jim Dandy S. third-place finisher Destin (Giant's Causeway). Having already completed his major preparations, the gray galloped Monday and will have a relatively quiet week leading up to Saturday, Pletcher confirmed.
“He had a good gallop and seems to be in good spirits,” Pletcher said. “I'll probably paddock school him on Wednesday. It's just a routine week.”
Pletcher also added that three-time Grade I winner Curalina (Curlin) is “all systems go” for the GI Personal Ensign S. Saturday, a “Win and You're In” event that grants the winner an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 5.
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