Paynter withdrawn from Travers consideration

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Three-year-old colt Paynter, winner of the Haskell Invitational, has been taken out of consideration from this month's Travers Stakes. Owner Zayat Stables and trainer Bob Baffert made the decision Monday.

"We talked yesterday and this morning about it," Baffert said from Del Mar. "It was going to be tough. I wouldn't be able to get a work into him, and it would be too much. We'll just get him right and get him back to full steam and nominate him everywhere."

Paynter came down with an infection after winning the Haskell at Monmouth Park on July 29. His elevated temperature prevented him from coming back to Baffert's barn in California or shipping to Saratoga.

Baffert sent Paynter to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Ringoes, N.J. The colt is currently stabled at Belmont Park.

The Hall-of-Fame trainer will instead start Liaison, owned by Arnold Zetcher. in the Mid-Summer Derby.

"Liaison is doing well," Baffert said.

Liaison most recently was third to Alpha in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. On July 4 he was third in the Swaps Stakes which followed a second in the Affirmed Handicap, both at Hollywood Park.

He began the year with an eighth-place finish in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 4 and five weeks later was fourth in the San Felipe Stakes.

Liaison was sixth to I'll Have Another in both the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies.

The colt closed his two-year-old season with three straight wins, including the Real Quiet Stakes and CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. He has banked $585,560 with three wins in 11 starts.