Golden Soul back to work for Travers

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) – It was back to work Thursday morning at Saratoga for Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul. Trained by Dallas Stewart, Golden Soul is being prepared for the Travers on Saturday, Aug. 24.

With exercise rider Pedro Velez in the saddle, the 3-year-old colt worked five furlongs in 1:00.97.

“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.”

Golden Soul, owned by Charles Fipke, finished seventh to Verrazano in the Haskell on July 28 at Monmouth Park.

“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.”

The colt has been able to bank $527,400 with just one win in eight career starts. He came in second to Oxbow in the Lecomte Stakes and sixth in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

After getting fourth in the Louisiana Derby behind Revolutionary he posted his runner-up finish to Orb in the Run for the Roses then fell back to ninth in the Belmont Stakes behind Palace Malice.

Golden Soul will face Orb, Palace Malice and Haskell winner Verrazano in the Travers.

Categorized in: Horses