The Bob Baffert trained Paynter might not make it to the Travers Stakes at Saratoga
After taking several things into consideration, it was decided that Paynter will not be running in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on 25th August, 2012, after winning the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on 29th July.
After the Haskell, the charge of Bob Baffert spiked a fever but with treatment, the problem is taken care of. Despite the fact that the runner has made a full recovery, the handler does not want to take any chances with the sophomore.
Baffert’s plan for the son of Awesome again is that he'll skip the Travers Stakes, and start getting ready for the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, which will be hosted at Parx Racing on 22nd September, 2012.
Paynter’s ultimate goal is to run in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park in November, 2012.
Owner Ahmed Zayat wanted to run the colt in the Travers, but now has decided otherwise. He told the press:
“He's 100% healthy. He's over his illness. The only question is: Is he fit enough? Do we try to make the race and go from there or be more cautious? I do micromanage when it comes to my horses. I like to have a say in what my horses do, but I have
never not listened to my trainer when he tells me they don't want to run."
Baffert feels that the runner can perform much better if he is given some rest, he said:
“Let's just run him in the Pennsylvania Derby, then the Breeders' Cup.”
Paynter was shipped to Belmont Park on 10th August, 2012, where he is under constant surveillance and is monitored on a daily basis.
The trainer wants to be careful with the Kentucky bred runner mainly because he has the potential to become one of the best runners in the sport.
Currently, he holds an overall record of 3-2-0 in 6 starts and has earnings worth $
$952,224. He finished fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, second in the Grade 3 Cliff's Edge Derby Trial Stakes, and finished as a runner-up in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.
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