Golden Soul works for Travers

Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul returned to the work

tab on Thursday morning at Saratoga, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 over the

fast main track for

trainer Dallas Stewart.

Regular exercise rider Pedro Velez was up for the work, the

first for Golden Soul since finishing last of seven in the Grade 1 Haskell

Invitational on July 28 at Monmouth Park. Stewart is targeting the Grade 1, $1

million Travers on August 24 for the Perfect Soul colt's next start.

"He worked great," Stewart said. "Actually, he came out of

the Haskell great. I can't explain the bad race. Health-wise, he's fine. We've

been galloping him steady, giving him his normal routine and he's handled it

fine. He worked great today. He had great energy and came home good, so we're

pointing toward the Travers."

Since breaking his maiden December 30 at Fair Grounds,

Golden Soul is 0-for-6 this year, running second in the LeComte and

Derby before a ninth-placing in the Belmont Stakes. In the

Haskell, he ran last all the way around and wound up beaten 29 1/2 lengths.

"The next day, he was sharp, feeling good. I had to walk

him with a lip chain for three days," Stewart said. "He was full of energy when

he galloped and (showed) everything you like to see coming out of a race.

"He ran

bad; I really don't know why. Maybe he didn't like the racetrack. It was a

disappointing race, but he came out of it good. It happens in racing. The

Travers, we think he can be competitive."

Stablemate Perfect Title, who is also by Perfect Soul, had his first

work since a seventh-of-nine placing in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on

July 27. The bay colt clocked a bullet, best of 13, five furlongs in :59 1/5 on the main track.

"We'll think about where we should go with him next,"

Stewart said. "I don't know about (the Travers) with him yet. We'll have to talk

about it."

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