Da' Tara smokes bullet half-mile for Travers

On Friday, Belmont S. (G1) upsetter DA' TARA (Tiznow) zipped a half-mile in a

bullet :47 4/5, fastest of 52 works on Saratoga's fast Oklahoma training track.

The move was accomplished in company with fellow Nick Zito sophomore Chris Got

Even (Stephen Got Even), an allowance winner who clocked :48.

A disappointing last of seven after engaging in a speed duel in the Jim Dandy

S. (G2), Da' Tara aims to rebound in the August 23 Travers S. (G1).

"Da' Tara worked beautiful today," Zito said. "Hopefully, he'll have a good

week, we'll have a good week."

Zito added that Fountain of Youth S. (G2) hero COOL COAL MAN (Mineshaft),

who, like Da' Tara is owned by Robert V. LaPenta, is another candidate for the

Travers. Cool Coal Man, third to Big Brown (Boundary) in the Haskell

Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park, worked Thursday, going four furlongs in :48

2/5 over the muddy track.

"They're both doing well. I'm happy about that," Zito said. "I like the way

(Cool Coal Man) came out of the race (Haskell). He came out of the race real,

real good and had a tremendous work yesterday. He's a very good horse. The

Fountain of Youth is not an easy race to win and he won it. So, if we go with

that we'll be OK."

In other Travers news, Jim Dandy victor MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) galloped

Friday morning on the Oklahoma training track after trainer Dallas Stewart

scrapped a planned five-furlong move.

"He had a little gassy stomach this morning, so he'll just gallop a little

bit," Stewart said. "I don't know if he'll breeze tomorrow -- the weather has a

lot to do with it."

Trainer Todd Pletcher said that HARLEM ROCKER (Macho Uno), winner of the

Withers S. (G3) and the Prince of Wales S., remained on target for the Travers

and is scheduled to breeze five-eighths Sunday morning.

"We've been lucky with his schedule -- we haven't missed any breezes with

him," Pletcher said of Harlem Rocker, a striking gray who is four-for-five.

"He's a good-looking horse. I don't think we've seen the full potential of him

yet. The Travers will be interesting."

Also expected for the Travers are Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow),

Wood Memorial S. (G1) victor TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat), Louisiana Derby

(G2) winner PYRO (Pulpit), Swaps S. (G2) scorer TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park),

Henry Walton S. king MAMBO IN SEATTLE (Kingmambo), Henry Walton runner-up YOU

AND I FOREVER (A.P. Indy) and recent allowance/optional claiming winner ACAI

(Three Wonders). Iowa Derby hero TIZ NOW TIZ THEN (Tiznow) is considered

questionable.