Goldwood looking to double up in Unbridled Elaine Stakes

Goldwood will try to win her second stakes of the Monmouth Park season in the $75,000 Unbridled Elaine on Saturday, but possibly will face a stiff challenge from stablemate Misericordia and most definitely will be tested by New York shipper Factorofwon.

The Unbridled Elaine, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, is the headliner on a 13-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern and runs through 6:16 p.m., about 20 minutes before the Belmont Stakes. The Unbridled Elaine will be race 9 and should go between the Woody Stephens and Met Mile at Belmont.

In addition to the Unbridled Elaine, the Monmouth program includes five optional-claiming races and a maiden race on turf.

Goldwood, a 5-year-old Colts Neck Stables homebred by Medaglia d’Oro, scored her fifth win from 14 starts in the Politely Stakes at Monmouth on Preakness Day. She pressed the pace of Deplorable Lady in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, took over in the stretch, and scored by 1 3/4 lengths as the 9-5 favorite, earning an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

Unlike the Politely, which started in the infield chute that angles to the backstretch, the shorter unbridled Elaine will start on the backstretch itself.

Goldwood will be ridden by Jose Ferrer, who leads the Monmouth rider standings by a single win over Nik Juarez. Goldwood will break from post 4, with Misericordia just to her inside and Factorofwon in post 2.

Misericordia is cross-entered in a Friday optional-claiming race at Laurel Park but will be scratched, according to Colts Neck Stables racing manager Alan Goldberg. He said Goldwood would start in the Unbridled Elaine and that he “might” run Misericordia, too.

A 5-year-old British-bred by Dansili, Misericordia is coming off a third-place finish in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard and, like Goldwood, would be returning on three weeks’ rest.

Goldwood and Misericordia are trained by Jorge Duarte Jr., who is 11 for 57 (19 percent) on the year for Colts Neck.

Factorofwon, trained by Christophe Clement, finished sixth last time out in a tough running of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland that was won by nine-time winner Morticia. Factorofwon’s pace-pressing March victory two starts back in a second-level optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park more clearly shows what she is capable of at her best.

The 4-year-old daughter of The Factor likely will be able to work out a stalking trip, possibly behind Goldwood. Reylu Gutierrez has the mount.

The weather forecast looks dry through Saturday, but on the off chance there is a surface switch, Liz’s Cable Girl, entered for the main track only, would be the horse to beat. Last year’s champion New Jersey-bred older filly or mare is coming off a determined victory in a third-level optional-claiming sprint at Parx for trainer Patrick McBurney.

If Liz’s Cable Girl starts, she is Ferrer’s first call over Goldwood.