Travers third-place finisher Bravazzo in great shape

NYRA SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Bravazo, the third-place finisher in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers, was in great shape Sunday morning, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. The 3-year-old Awesome Again colt made his ninth start of the year - and 13th total - in the Mid-Summer Derby. He joined Justify as the only two horses to have started in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.

“The horse is consistent,” Lukas said. “He’s probably the most consistent of any of the 3-year-olds other than Justify, who did it all, but he shows up. He’ll probably be one of the few that will be in the [Grade 1] Pennsylvania Derby [September 22 at Parx]. He came back great. [He] cleaned up, he looked good this morning. If they ran it next week, I could wheel him back.”

The durable Kentuckybred represented Calumet Farms colors well, producing a strong closing kick from midpack to finish five lengths behind winner Catholic Boy, who held a four-length advantage over runner-up Mendelssohn. Bravazo’s $125,000 share of the Travers purse pushed his career earnings to $1,106,528.

“The thing yesterday is the speed held up all day long,” said Lukas. “Even on the turf course. Those two horses were perfectly placed and I thought we were one of the few horses that closed and ran somebody down.

“In a field with that much competition, you’re not going to have a perfect trip. I would’ve liked to see him not catch as much dirt. He had to go wide to get clear to run. Luis [Saez] wanted to move a little earlier than he was able, but you know, that’s race riding,” he added.

Now that the 149th Travers is history, and the script has been written by the winning ridgling, eight colts and the filly Wonder Gadot, Lukas said he had mixed feelings with how the race played out.