Travers contenders ready, willing and able

Jim Dandy S. (G2) conqueror STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini), the 5-2 morning-line

favorite for Saturday's 142nd running of the $1 million Travers S. (G1) at

Saratoga, was reported to be all set for the 1 1/4-mile race by trainer Todd

Pletcher.

That sentiment was precisely echoed Friday morning by the connections of

Haskell Invitational (G1) winner COIL (Point Given), Preakness S. (G1) victor

SHACKLEFORD (Forestry), Belmont S. (G1) hero RULER ON ICE (Roman Ruler), Long

Branch S. scorer RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE (Tapit), Curlin S. runner-up RAISON D'ETAT

(A.P. Indy) and Prince of Wales second BOWMAN'S CAUSEWAY (Giant's Causeway).

"Everything is terrific at this moment," Pletcher said at 11:28 a.m. (EDT) on

Friday. "Stay Thirsty has already schooled in the paddock and is back in his

stall. It will be an early night for me and a late night for (owner) Mike (Repole).

But basically, the major work is done."

In addition to Stay Thirsty, Pletcher will also be saddling champion Uncle Mo

(Indian Charlie) in the King's Bishop S. (G1), multiple Grade 2 queen Hilda's

Passion (Canadian Frontier) in the Ballerina S. (G1) and Maple Forest (Forestry)

in the Victory Ride S. (G3). He'll also send out the favored entry of Our

Entourage (Street Cry [Ire]) and Never On Time (Any Given Saturday) in

Saturday's 2ND race, Anonymous Donor (Scat Daddy) in the 3RD and Sarah's

Pleasure (Street Cry [Ire]) in the 6TH.

"The preparation is the same whether it's the Ballerina, or the Travers, or a

maiden race," Pletcher said. "Obviously, some carry more weight than others, but

you have to treat each race somewhat the same. If you get too crazy about it,

it's not beneficial."

Wearing a protective cup over his right eye, Coil had an easy gallop Friday

morning on the main track for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. In the Travers, the

colt will not have any protection over the eye, which continues to heal from a

scratched cornea.

"It looks good; it's healing, so that's good," Baffert said. "He's not in any

pain, and it's too late anyway, because you can't make any last-minute changes."

In trainer Dale Romans' barn, Preakness winner and Travers hopeful

Shackleford was, as usual, rolling in the dirt after his morning gallop.

"His final roll before the race," Romans said. "Well, maybe not. Maybe we'll

let him come out and roll tomorrow. Keep him happy."

Ruler On Ice will ship up to Saratoga Friday night, according to Lori Hall,

who owns the Belmont winner with her husband, George. The chestnut gelding has

been training at Kelly Breen's base at Monmouth Park and enters the race off a

third behind Coil and Shackleford in the Haskell.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin would like nothing better than a fast pace to

target for his Travers starter Rattlesnake Bridge on Saturday. The gray colt

stumbled at the start of his most recent victory in the Long Branch at Monmouth

Park, then steadily gobbled up ground from seventh place before winning by a

nose.

McLaughlin said all the figures he looked at indicated the performance

matched up with the other Travers contenders, and he is expecting a big effort

in the race.

"I think Shackleford will be on the lead," McLaughlin said. "I think Coil

might be close. He just didn't break last time (when winning the Haskell

Invitational). Stay Thirsty will be there. They won't let (Shackleford) get

away."

McLaughlin added that Rattlesnake Bridge was doing "fine" on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott reported that Travers contender

Raison d'Etat was on schedule for the race.

"He galloped this morning," Mott said. "He's doing well."

Finally, trainer Chad Brown confirmed that Bowman's Causeway was in good

shape the day before the Travers.