Possible rematch between Cross Traffic, Fort Larned looms in Woodward

Possible rematch between Cross Traffic, Fort Larned looms

in Woodward

"That's pretty impressive," Pletcher said. "You don't see that many sub-23's

internally, especially in a dirt race.

"He put himself into the race right away," he added. "Every time they turned

up the pressure, he was able to turn it up another notch. It was a perfect trip,

but it was a self-produced perfect trip."

With the Whitney part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In"

series, Cross Traffic now has an all-fees-paid entry into the Breeders' Cup

Classic at 1 1/4 miles, a distance Pletcher thinks is within the colt's scope.

"What I liked about the race yesterday, it looked like those horses were

gaining on him, but then you look at the gallop-out, and he's cleared them

again," he said. "It's all a function of pace and he showed yesterday he's

ratable, even though he was on the front end. The first quarter showed he has

speed, but he's not headstrong."

To trainer Ian Wilkes, the defeat of 6-5 Whitney favorite Fort Larned began

at the start, when he broke a step slow and winner Cross Traffic got away

quickly and set a comfortable opening quarter-mile.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. alertly moved Fort Larned into an outside stalking

position around the first turn, but, in Wilkes' mind, the damage was done. He

believes it cost Fort Larned, who finished fifth in his attempt to win his

second straight Whitney.

"We didn't get away good yesterday; we broke a little slow," Wilkes said.

"That wasn't from any tactics or anything. The horse just broke a little slow,

and if we break better, it changes the complexion of the race.

"(Cross Traffic's jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) rode a great race. He got away

with a :24 first quarter. Let's pay all tribute to what Johnny, Todd (Pletcher)

and Cross Traffic did. We will have to regroup."

Wilkes said if Fort Larned trains well, he will point him toward the

Woodward.

"This Grade 1 handicap division is a tough division," Wilkes said. "We could

run this race again in three or four weeks and have a different winner. It's a

testament to how strong a division it is. It's not easy; if you make mistakes,

you're going to get beat."

Godolphin Racing's Alpha emerged from his sixth-place finish in Saturday's

Whitney in good order but left trainer Kiaran McLaughlin uncertain where the

four-year-old Bernardini colt would start next.

"He came out of the race great; it was just too tough a field," McLaughlin

said. "We're not sure what we're going to do from here, but he's fine. He's in

good shape."

The Whitney marked the first career loss at Saratoga for Alpha, who broke his

maiden here in 2011 and swept the Jim Dandy and Travers last summer, winning the

latter in a dead heat with Golden Ticket.

Under Joel Rosario, Alpha raced near the back and was strung out three wide

on both turns in the Whitney, never threatening at any point. He finished seven

lengths behind the front-running Cross Traffic.

"We were expecting a much faster first quarter and half," McLaughlin said.

"We were well back, and it's hard to make up ground on these types of horses

going :24 and :47. But, we knew we were in tough to start with."

Alpha has failed to hit the board in six starts since the Travers, including

a pair of stakes in Dubai to start this year. His best finish came in his

pre-Whitney start, running fourth of five in the Suburban Handicap on July 6 at

Belmont Park.

"We just have to regroup and figure out what we're going to do," McLaughlin

said.

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