Fayeq still a possibilty for Travers

By NYRA SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Good Samaritan’s upset of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners in Saturday’s Jim Dandy gave the connections of impressive recent allowance winner Fayeq even more reason to look at the Travers.

The 1 1/4 miles MidSummer Derby would mark the stakes debut for Shadwell Stable’s Fayeq, a bay Malibu Moon colt who broke his maiden June 11 at Belmont Park before coming from off the pace for a 3 ½-length triumph July 26 at Saratoga in 1:51.19 for 1 1/8 miles.

“We are going to look at it,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said of the half-brother to Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra Sunday morning. “We haven’t gotten the OK from the boss, but we’re sure going to look at it strong.”

Making his first start on dirt after opening his career with six straight on the turf, Good Samaritan passed Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness winner Cloud Computing in his last-to-first move down the stretch to win by 4 ¾ lengths. Behind him, his four rivals were separated by less than a length combined.

“The winner was impressive, first time dirt. And the other four were within a half a length of each other, so it gives hope to everybody,” McLaughlin said. “The Travers might have gone from a nine-horse field to a 14-horse field.”

Shadwell’s multiple graded stakes winner Mohaymen remains at Belmont Park where he breezed a half-mile over the training track July 28 in 50.85 seconds. It was his first breeze after running sixth in an optional claiming allowance July 14 at Belmont, his turf debut.

The connections are still discussing options for the Tapit colt, a $2.2 million yearling, including staying on turf, returning to dirt or going off to a stud career.

“We’re not sure what we’re doing with him,” McLaughlin said, “but he’s still in training.”

McLaughlin is searching for a spot for Zilla Racing Stables’ Celtic Chaos, upset winner of the 6 ½-furlong John Morrissey for New Yorkbreds July 27 by a neck, his third consecutive victory and second straight in state-bred stakes company.

“It was a nice win,” he said. “He’s doing great. We don’t really have a good spot back for him. The next New York-bred sprint is October 21. We have to find something else, and we will. We’re working on it.”

Shadwell’s multiple graded stakes winner Mohaymen remains at Belmont Park where he breezed a half-mile over the training track July 28 in 50.85 seconds. It was his first breeze after running sixth in an optional claiming allowance July 14 at Belmont, his turf debut.