Belmont: Trappe Shot preps for Vosburgh, Winchester works toward Hirsch Turf Classic
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trappe Shot continued preparations for his engagement in the October 1 Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational with a four-furlong breeze at Belmont on Saturday, working in company with stablemate Rattlesnake Bridge. The tandem was clocked in 49.90 seconds.
Both colts are owned by Nicholas Brady’s Mill House and are sons of Tapit. Trappe Shot, a 4-year-old, seeks his first Grade 1 victory, having won the Grade 2 True North Presented by Emirates Airline in June and finished second by a nose in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in August.
“They weren’t super fast, but I felt like when we worked after the break the track might have been a little bit dull,” McLaughlin said on Sunday. “Anyway, we’re happy. The important horses worked well and came back in good shape.”
Rattlesnake Bridge, runner-up in the Grade 1 Travers, is working toward a start in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on September 24 at Parx Racing. Also on the worktab on Saturday was Godolphin Racing’s Grade 1 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks heroine It’s Tricky, who will make her next start in the Grade 2 Cotillion on October 1 at Parx.
McLaughlin added that Darley Stable’s Alpha, a 2-year-old who debuted a six-length winner at Saratoga Race Course on September 3, will likely return to the worktab next Saturday as he aims for a start in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 8 at Belmont.
“He’s smallish-framed, so he doesn’t need to work every week,” said McLaughlin. “We’ll work him on the 21st for the 8th, but we’ll also watch the weather. We might work him Thursday or Friday.”
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Winchester, who will attempt to defend his title in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational on Super Saturday, turned in a five-furlong breeze toward that goal on Sunday morning at Belmont Park. Sent out in company with Mr. Ryder, Winchester was clocked in 1:03.56 over Belmont’s firm inner turf course.
“It was a nice work, just a maintenance work,” said Christophe Clement, who trains the 6-year-old son of Theatrical for Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone.
Winner of Saratoga’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer on August 13 in his most recent outing, Winchester seeks the fifth Grade 1 score of his career in the Joe Hirsch.
Clement added that reigning Eclipse Champion Turf Male Gio Ponti, who worked five furlongs in 1:03.57 over the inner turf on Wednesday, would breeze next Sunday toward a planned start in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on October 8.
“Gio Ponti will work next weekend,” Clement said. “He worked this Wednesday, so he will come back next Sunday on the turf.”
