Pletcher happy with Palace Malice, Verrazano following works

Pletcher happy with Palace Malice, Verrazano following works

"You hate to run two horses like this against each other, but it's the right

thing for each horse and each owner, so that's what we're going to do," Pletcher

said. "Both horses are certainly in position where a win here would solidify

their status at the top of the division. What better place to decide it than on

the racetrack in the Travers?"

Pletcher also worked Princess of Sylmar, the Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club

American Oaks winner, who is seeking to add the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama to her

resume on Saturday.

Princess of Sylmar breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5, 56th fastest of 111

works at the distance.

The daughter of Majestic Warrior won the Kentucky Oaks at odds of 38-1 and

was less highly thought of than her stablemates Dreaming of Julia and Unlimited

Budget, who she vanquished that day.

Pletcher believes any doubts about her talent have been eliminated.

"I think it changed in the (Coaching Club American) Oaks (on July 20 at the

Spa)," Pletcher said. "She put any questions about her Kentucky Oaks victory to

rest in there with a very strong performance. She's trained brilliantly since

then. We hope she can repeat that type of effort in the Alabama. For a filly

that has only lost one time since her debut, and coming off a win in the

Kentucky Oaks and the Coaching Club, she's established herself as the division

leader."

Trainer Ken McPeek's "War Horses" -- Java's War and War

Dancer -- breezed over the Oklahoma training track on Sunday,

with both colts under consideration for the Travers.

Java's

War, winner of the Blue Grass in April, breezed three furlongs in :37 and

will make his next start in either the Stroll overnight stakes at 1 3/16 miles

on the turf on Wednesday or in the Travers. McPeek said the decision will be

made by owner Charles Fipke, who also campaigns Travers contender Golden Soul,

trained by Dallas Stewart.

"It was just to let him stretch his legs," McPeek

said. "He went fantastic. We're going to make a decision on whether he runs on

Wednesday. I have to speak to Mr. Fipke about that detail. We may still very

well run in the Travers. He worked well today, and I'm happy with that."

Virginia Derby winner

War Dancer breezed five furlongs in 1:03 1/5 in

company with stablemate So Raise Yourglass.

"It was just a nice maintenance five-eighths," McPeek, said. "The riders went

off a little slow the first three-eighths, but they finished up and galloped out

nicely."

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