SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Essential Quality and Keepmeinmind, separated by a half-length when finishing 1-2 in the Jim Dandy Stakes, returned to the work tab Saturday morning at Saratoga. To hear their respective trainers tell it, the hard race both had three weeks ago only served to propel their 3-year-olds forward as they prepare for their rematch in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Aug. 28. Shortly after the main track opened at 5:30 a.m., Essential Quality, with regular rider Luis Saez up, worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds. Working outside the graded stakes-winning older filly Bonny South, Essential Quality got his last quarter in 23.60, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. “I thought it was his best work he’s had since he’s been here,” said Brad Cox, trainer of Essential Quality, who had three works in Saratoga before the Jim Dandy. “Luis thought he was a little more aggressive going to the pole, and he worked with Bonny South – they’ve matched up before. I thought it was a really, really good move.” In his gallops this week leading up to Saturday’s breeze, Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality “had been acting like he was ready to do something,” Cox said. “He had his opportunity this morning. Time was a little quick. Luis said when he got him up the backside, there was a horse galloping and he wanted to go get him. All the signs are positive.” Bonny South, a multiple graded stakes winner who most recently finished fifth in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, is pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 28. “We wanted to get something accomplished two weeks out, I felt like we did,” Cox said of Bonny South. Keepmeinmind, with exercise rider Dennis Means aboard, went a half-mile in 47.74, going his first quarter in 23.67 and second in 24.07. Trainer Robertino Diodoro said he was looking to slow the horse down from previous moves that were quite fast. “Dennis said it was his best work since he’s been working him, and he’s been on him for his last five or six works if not more,” Diodoro said. “He did it very impressively. Cooled out great, keep him healthy and happy for another 14 days.” Miles D, the Curlin Stakes runner-up, also worked for the Travers, going a half-mile in 50.04 over the main track. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Another 3-year-old who put in a strong workout Saturday morning was the undefeated Life Is Good, who went six furlongs in 1:13.46 over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 28. Life Is Good, unraced since his victory in the San Felipe on March 6 at Santa Anita, got his last quarter in 24.04 and proceeded to gallop out seven furlongs in 1:27.03 and a mile in 1:40.64 under exercise rider Amelia Green. “I thought the track was a little bit on the dull side and I thought it was a powerful work,” Pletcher said. “He’s got very efficient action. We needed a good solid work coming off a layoff, and I thought we got that.” Following Sea, who Pletcher also is pointing to the Jerkens, worked four furlongs in 49.22 with Dr Post, who is pointing to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar next Saturday. Dr Post travels to California on Tuesday, Pletcher said. Malathaat works toward Alabama Malathaat, the Kentucky Oaks winner who suffered her first career defeat in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, worked a half-mile in 50.18 in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama. Malathaat, with John Velazquez aboard, worked outside of Giocare, a 4-year-old gelding, went her first quarter in 25.31, and galloped out in 1:02.79. “Powerful gallop-out,” Pletcher said. “I thought the main track was a little bit on the dull side, a lot of horses slowing down down the lane, but I had her galloping out [seven furlongs] in 1:27-and-2, which is a strong gallop-out on that track.” :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. Malathaat was beaten by Maracuja in the Coaching Club American Oaks, which was the first race for both 3-year-old fillies in 12 weeks. “I would anticipate that having that race would move her forward,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, we see the same the same kind of reaction we got from the Ashland to the Kentucky Oaks.”