Cavorting targets La Brea – maybe a title

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Cavorting, winner of the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga, will try to strengthen her résumé and perhaps nab the Eclipse Award in the female sprint division when she runs in the Grade 1 La Brea on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Cavorting finished fourth as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31, and it was presumed that would be her last start of the year. But trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the filly came out of the race indicating she did not yet need a break. The La Brea is restricted to 3-year-old fillies and run at seven furlongs, the same conditions as the Test.

“She’s doing great and she’s happy – why not?” said McLaughlin, who trains Cavorting for the Stonestreet Stables. “It’s almost easier to keep her going than pull the plug on her.”

In addition to the Test, Cavorting won the Grade 2 Prioress and the listed Jersey Girl Stakes, both restricted to 3-year-old fillies. In her only try against older fillies and mares, she finished fourth behind Wavell Avenue in the Breeders’ Cup with a wide trip after breaking from post 14.

In addition to Cavorting, McLaughlin is planning to send Marking and Watershed to California for the Grade 1 Malibu the same day. The Malibu is restricted to 3-year-old males and run at seven furlongs.

Marking is 2 for 2. He was scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile because McLaughlin didn’t want him to take on a salty group of older Grade 1 stakes winners. Watershed is 2 for 3 with a fourth-place finish behind Runhappy in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga in what was his second career start. Runhappy, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner, is pointing to the Malibu as is the Grade 1 winner Dortmund.

“It’s not ideal, but we’re getting five pounds and it’s a Grade 1, straight 3-year-olds,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin’s trio is scheduled to fly from south Florida to Southern California on Dec. 19.