Aqueduct: Regent's House targets Gazelle

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he believes Regent’s House is a stakes filly and will find out sooner than later if he’s right by running her in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle Stakes on April 5.

Regent’s House, a daughter of Street Cry out of the multiple champion mare Ashado, won her debut sprinting over the inner track on March 9 by 6 1/2 lengths. She ran six furlongs in 1:11.58 and earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It’s not normal for us to do this,” McLaughlin said. “We don’t know her level of ability as far as is she a Grade 1 filly or did she just beat maidens at Aqueduct? We do know she’s a very nice filly doing well and wants to go longer. If she runs fifth and gets tired we can go back to an allowance race. If she wins by five maybe we have an Oaks filly.”

On Saturday, Regent’s House worked a half-mile in 48.83 seconds over the Belmont training track in company with the 3-year-old colt Sublime. The two broke off in a very sharp opening quarter of 23.30 seconds.