Cavorting gives mile another shot in Ruffian

ELMONT, N.Y. – Cavorting, a Grade 1-winning sprinter last year at age 3, will try to stretch out to a mile in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont.

In races at seven furlongs or shorter, Cavorting is 5-1-1 from eight starts. She is 0 for 2 at a mile, though trainer Kiaran McLaughlin believes there were legitimate excuses in both races.

Cavorting, who is 2 for 3 at Belmont, will break from the rail with new rider Javier Castellano aboard. Castellano replaces Irad Ortiz Jr., who had ridden Cavorting in all 10 of her previous starts.

“Several people in the camp weren’t pleased with Irad’s last race, so therefore there was a change,” McLaughlin said.

Cavorting will face Carrumba, the winner of the Grade 3 Top Flight at Aqueduct; Include Betty, the winner of the Grade 1 Mother Goose here last year; Calamity Kate; Spelling Again; and Welcome Aboard.