Trappe Shot remains on fence; Bulldogger to King's Bishop

The connections of the TRAPPE SHOT (Tapit) haven't decided whether

they'll enter the colt in Saturday's $1 million Travers S. (G1) or $250,000

King's Bishop S. (G1).

"We had a pow-wow last night over dinner, but we're probably going to come to

a conclusion (Wednesday) morning," said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains the

sophomore for Nicholas Brady's Mill House. "The Bradys will be out at the barn

again. It's not so cut and dry -- I'd say maybe 50/50."

McLaughlin added the colt is prepared to compete in either the 1 1/4-mile

Travers or the seven-furlong King's Bishop. Entries for both races will be taken

Wednesday.

"We don't have to ship, we don't have to change riders, and we don't have to

change our training schedule with the two races being run here on Saturday,"

McLaughlin explained. "He's fit and he's ready to go. We just have to decide

what race we're going to enter because we can't enter them both."

An impressive winner of his first three starts this year sprinting, Trappe

Shot recorded a comfortable 2 1/2-length score when making his two-turn debut in

the July 10 Long Branch S. at Monmouth Park. Sent off the 5-2 second choice in

the nine-furlong Haskell Invitational (G1) on August 1, the chestnut offered a

good rally for runner-up honors behind Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike), who will

bypass Saturday's "Midsummer Derby."

Trappe Shot figures to be one of the top betting choices in either race

Saturday.

The King's Bishop picked up a confirmed starter on Tuesday when Bob Baffert

announced that he will run BULLDOGGER (Dixie Union). Two-for-three in his

career, with both victories at Saratoga, the speedy colt will wheel back on

two-weeks rest from a sharp 4 3/4-length allowance score.

Bulldogger won his debut by 6 1/2 lengths last year in the slop at the Spa

and received a career-best 105 BRIS Speed rating for his August 14 victory. He's

due to arrive from Southern California on Thursday.