Good Magic, seen here winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) put in an outstanding breeze for the upcoming Travers (G1) at Saratoga. (Photo by Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
Reigning juvenile champion Good Magic led Saturday’s busy worktab as he turned in his first breeze since winning the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 25 at Saratoga Race Course.
Owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stable, the multiple graded stakes winner worked four furlongs solo, covering the distance in 48.09 seconds over the main track for trainer Chad Brown.
“He moved really well,” said Brown. “I thought it was an outstanding work. He looked super and I’m very happy with him.”
The July 29 Haskell was Good Magic’s first win since taking the Grade 2 Blue Grass by 1 ½ lengths in April. He was second in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness behind Triple Crown winner Justify this spring.
Last year, the chestnut Curlin colt broke his maiden with a 4 ½-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar following runner-up finishes in his debut on August 26 – his only Saratoga start – and in the Grade 1 Champagne in October.
“We gave him a little breather following the Preakness, and he’s come back and really done well,” Brown said. “He came out of the Haskell in great shape.”
Engage, who finished second in the Grade 3 Amsterdam on July 28, worked four furlongs in 48.09 for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy on Travers Day. Chilean Triple Crown winner Wow Cat, who ran second in the Grade 2 Shuvee in her U.S. debut, breezed four furlongs in 48.87 ahead of her bid in the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign, also on Travers Day.
“I thought everyone worked well for us this morning, and it was nice to get everything done before the threat of rain,” said Brown.
CCA Oaks Heroine Monomoy Girl Returns to Worktab
Multiple Grade 1 winner Monomoy Girl breezed four furlongs in 49.88 seconds on Saratoga’s main track, her first major training since winning her fourth straight Grade 1 in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 22. The Tapizar filly is working towards a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on September 22 at Parx Racing.
With regular jockey Florent Geroux aboard, Monomoy Girl breezed in company with allowance winner Purely Lucky. Trainer Brad Cox said he was impressed with Monomoy’s Girl’s work in her first breeze since besting Midnight Bisou to win the Coaching Club American Oaks in her Spa debut.
“She breezed very well, it was just a little maintenance breeze in company. We weren’t looking to do a whole lot,” Cox said. “We’re just trying to keep her on schedule, she usually works Saturdays or Sundays. That was the plan, just get a nice, easy half-mile. She galloped out 1:03 and change. That’s all we were looking for. She looks fantastic. She was letting us know the last couple of days, the way she’s been galloping, that it’s been three weeks since she’s run and she was looking to do something.”
Owned by Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables, Monomoy Girl is the leading contender for the 3-year-old filly division after starting the year 5-for-5, including Grade 1 wins in her last four starts encompassing the Ashland on April 7 at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks on May 4 at Churchill Downs, Acorn on Belmont Stakes Day, June 9, and the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 22.
Monomoy Girl will leave Saratoga for Churchill on Wednesday, Cox said.
