Winner of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 30, Epicenter wheeled back in nine days to record a five-furlong workout in 1:01.92 over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track on Monday morning.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen told the Daily Racing Form that the 3-year-old son of Not This Time has had “very good energy” since his Jim Dandy win, and will make his next start in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 27.
“Just kind of wanted to flatten him out a tad with today's work,” Asmussen told DRF. “Little concerned with how sharp he's been off of winning the Jim Dandy. Obviously, he's proud of himself. He came out of it in really good shape, just wanted to kind of smooth him off. I'll give him a little company next week and then we'll probably slow it down from there.”
Runner-up in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes this year, Epicenter enter the Travers in search of his first Grade 1 win. Among his likely rivals are Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, Kentucky Derby third Zandon, Haskell winner Cyberknife, runaway Dwyer winner Charge It, late-developing Curlin Stakes winner Artorius, and Iowa Derby winner Ain't Life Grand.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
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