Palace Malice & Verrazano Work Out For Travers Stakes 2013

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 winners Palace Malice and Verrazano both emerged from final work outs for Saturday's Grade 1 Travers Stakes in good shape, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday, August 19.

Palace Malice & Verrazano Work Out For Travers Stakes 2013

Dogwood Stables' Palace Malice breezed a half-mile in 48.21 seconds, and Let's Go Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's Verrazano went the same distance in 48.65, both Sunday on the main track. "They are doing excellent," Pletcher said. "Both horses are in very good shape."

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn for the Travers on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Saratoga paddock.

Among the horses breezing for Pletcher on Monday were Authenticity, pointing for Sunday's Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign Invitational; and Elena Strikes and Stopchargingmaria, both targeting the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway on September 1.

Authenticity was clocked in 49.65 seconds for a half-mile on the main track, while Elena Strikes and Stopchargingmaria both went five furlongs in 1:01.25 on the Oklahoma training track.

"I thought Authenticity was very good," Pletcher said. "She seems to be coming up to this race very well. I think her last two races have been exceptional. I'm just really pleased with her.

"Both fillies, Elena Strikes and Stophchargingmaria, worked very well, and both seem to be coming up to the race in good shape, with one more breeze to go," he added.

Travers Stakes wagering at Saratoga Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

Pletcher indicated that Sweet Whiskey, a 5 1/4 length debut winner at Saratoga Race Course on August 11, is also being considered for the seven-furlong Spinaway Stakes. All in Blue, who broke his maiden at Belmont Park July 4 and ran fourth in the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga on July 21, both on dirt, breezed a half-mile in 48.07 seconds over the Oklahoma training track turf, ranking fifth of 48 horses. Pletcher is keeping his options open for All in Blue, including the Grade 2, $200,000 With Anticipation on the grass August 29, and the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful Stakes on dirt September 2.

"There's a chance he'll go in the With Anticipation. There's a chance he'll go in the Hopeful," Pletcher said. "I thought he breezed well on the grass today. He's by More Than Ready, and he's got turf on the bottom side of his pedigree, but he has also worked very well on the dirt. We'll just play it by ear."

2013 Travers Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 12 on Saragota Race Course's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:46 PM.