By Phil Janack
Several horses were out Monday morning in their final works for Saturday's $1 million Travers (gr.I), Saratoga's showpiece event.
Both Nothing Flat and Quest breezed for trainer Nick Zito, and each was clocked in 1:03 2/5 on the Oklahoma Training Track in separate moves.
An unraced 2-year-old stablemate broke off in front of Nothing Flat, causing some distraction, but Zito said the work was useful.
"It was a little confusing, but it worked out OK," he said. "This is a little heavier than the main track, so I guess if you went over there it would be like a minute. The main thing was he was scoped and everything was
fine."
Nothing Flat bled following a July 27 workout and was put on the diuretic Lasix for the Aug. 4 Jim Dandy (gr.II), where he ran seventh of nine, beaten nearly 26 lengths. After the race, Zito reported the colt bled through his medication, possibly from the heat.
"He's been fine, but the main thing was today," Zito said, "but, see, we had a cool day today, a cool morning."
With Edgar Prado getting the mount on Repent for his comeback, Zito said he was unsure who would ride Nothing Flat in the Travers. Among the top local jockeys available are Pat Day, Jose Santos and Richard Migliore.
Zito said he will stick with Javier Castellano aboard Quest, who ran a big race in the Jim Dandy to finish second, only to be disqualified and placed last for interfering with Iron Deputy in the stretch. The two horses clipped heels and Iron Deputy fell, throwing Migliore and sending him to the hospital overnight. He missed only one day of racing.
"I think Quest ran a tremendous race. It's unfortunate he had to come down because he worked so hard," Zito said. "He's been game all summer, all year."Shah Jehan was clocked in 1:03 1/5, breezing, at Oklahoma for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who also plans to run Jim Dandy runner-up Gold Dollar in the Travers.
"He worked all right. We were just trying to keep him fit and everything. We didn't do much with him," said Lukas, who also has Shah Jehan nominated to the King's Bishop at seven furlongs. "I see no reason for him not to run well. He's got to step forward. He's not going to beat them unless he improves, but he's on the improve, I think. "
Gold Dollar, who was moved up to second following the disqualification of Quest, galloped Monday morning.
"He's doing well. Very good. All he has to do now is go over there," Lukas said. "His last race was a good effort. He should move forward off that."
Also out this morning was Like A Hero, who went 1:01 3/5, breezing, for trainer Beau Greely on the main track after the break. Puzzlement was expected to work this morning for Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens.
More Travers Coverage, NYRA
