Dawn the Destroyer targets Barbara Fritchie Handicap

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has plotted a course for his and Stonestreet Stables’ two sprint stakes-winning females.

Dawn the Destroyer, who won the Interborough Stakes on Jan. 25 at Aqueduct, will be pointed to the Grade 3, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap on Feb. 16 at Laurel Park.

Dream Pauline, who won the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes on Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park, will wait for the Grade 1, $300,000 Madison on April 6 at Keeneland.

Dawn the Destroyer, a 5-year-old daughter of Speightstown, is now 2 for 2 since undergoing a throat procedure. She earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for her Interborough score.

“Throat surgery has definitely been a help, the time off helped, too,” McLaughlin said Friday from South Florida. “Junior [Alvarado] rode her well. It was a little nerve-wracking around the turn, until he got her out, but she ran well and we’ll keep going.”

Dream Pauline won the Hurricane Bertie in the slop by 3 1/2 lengths and earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. She is now 4 for 5 in her career.

McLaughlin said the Madison allows him to give Dream Pauline proper time to recover from a big race “and it’s a Grade 1,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Avery Island working toward return

Avery Island, who has not run since winning the Grade 3 Withers here in February 2018, is working toward his return, likely next month.

On Wednesday, Avery Island worked a half-mile in 48 seconds, the fastest of 30 breezes at that distance at Palm Meadows in Florida.

McLaughlin said that was Avery Island’s fourth workout since returning from an injury and that he would look to run him likely in March.

◗ Forever Liesl, winner of the Ladies Handicap by 4 1/4 lengths here Jan. 20, will likely make her next start in the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational on March 10 at Aqueduct, owner Jeffrey Kallenberg said.

Forever Liesl earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure for her Ladies win.