Cathryn Sophia works briskly as Servis mulls options for next race

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer John Servis has been resigned to the fact for a while that his Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia would not be ready to run in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga.

But after watching the filly breeze a sharp five furlongs on Friday morning at Saratoga, Servis is convinced Cathryn Sophia is on the right path to a race in the coming weeks.

With jockey Javier Castellano in the irons, Cathryn Sophia drilled five furlongs in 1:01.03 over the Oklahoma training track, with a final quarter-mile in 23.38 seconds. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.39 and seven-eighths in 1:25.57.

Nearing the wire, Castellano had to maneuver Cathryn Sophia several paths wide to go around a horse galloping before guiding her back to the rail on the gallop-out.

Asked if the work gave him any second thoughts about skipping the Test, Servis said: “Nah, she’s not there yet. But that was pretty impressive.”

It was only Cathryn Sophia’s second workout since her third-place finish behind Off the Tracks in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont on June 11.

Servis wants to run Cathryn Sophia in the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 24. He would like to run her once before then and has three potential options: the Grade 3, $100,000 Monmouth Oaks on Aug. 20; the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina on Aug. 27 at Saratoga; and the $150,000 Princess of Sylmar Stakes at Parx on Sept. 3.

“After her work this morning she’s going to be fit when she runs,” Servis said.

If she runs in the Ballerina, Cathryn Sophia could face fellow 3-year-old filly Carina Mia, who beat her in the Acorn, as well as several older fillies and mares.

“It’s certainly on the radar,” Servis said of the Ballerina.