Lots to like about Kareena in Test Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kareena may be short on experience, but she’s certainly not lacking for speed or ability, a potent combination that could make her the one to catch in Saturday’s Grade 1 Test at Saratoga. The Test drew a field of eight 3-year-old fillies, including Off the Tracks, Lewis Bay, and Lightstream, the first three finishers from last month’s Grade 1 Mother Goose.

Kareena has started just three times and has never faced graded stakes company – let alone Grade 1 opposition – coming into the seven-furlong Test. Kareena’s only loss was a second-place finish to Lightstream when the pair launched their careers in a killer maiden race last winter at Gulfstream Park. Kareena exits a one-sided victory in Belmont’s six-furlong Jersey Girl while continuing to train like a filly whose best is yet to come.

“I’m not concerned about the experience,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Kareena for Godolphin Racing. “This is an interesting group of fillies. I think five of them are turning back in distance, and at seven-eighths, I like where we’re going to be early in the race, either forwardly placed or on the lead. She’s doing great, and the weights are nice – she gets in with 116. All systems are go, and we like our chances.”

Off the Tracks led throughout before pulling away to a 3 1/4-length triumph in the Mother Goose for her fourth win in six starts. Off the Tracks captured the Grade 3 Schuylerville in equally impressive fashion here last summer for trainer Roderick Rodriguez. She moved to trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn after a majority interest in her was sold this year.

“When looking at the options presented us, we would have had to run back on short rest in the Coaching Club, wait for a mile and one-quarter in the Alabama, or cut back to seven-eighths for this race, and we felt of our options, the timing was probably better for this,” said Pletcher. “She did win the Schuylerville here last year. She’s ready to run and doing well.”

Pletcher also entered Kinsley Kisses, among the outsiders in the field. She’ll race with blinkers for the first time in the Test.

Lewis Bay shortens up to seven furlongs for the first time since winning her maiden by six lengths in her second start. A two-time Grade 2 winner, she ran well to be second in the Mother Goose following a stumble at the start.

“The way she’s running visually in the afternoon, it looks to me like she’s asking for a cutback, so we’ll give it to her,” said trainer Chad Brown. “Hopefully, she’ll get a good pace to run at. I think she fits well in this race.”

Lightstream was compromised by a wide trip in the Mother Goose when suffering her first setback in four starts. She readily ran down Kareena going seven furlongs in her debut, drawing off by 2 1/4 lengths while posting a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

KEY CONTENDERS

Kareena, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 96-84-98

◗ McLaughlin won the 2015 Test with Cavorting, who, like Kareena, came into the race off a victory in the Jersey Girl.

◗ Kareena loses the services of Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode her in the Jersey Girl, but picks up Javier Castellano. Ortiz will keep his regular seat aboard Lewis Bay.

“We were a little bit unlucky with the jockey situation, but we’re lucky to have a rider like Javier,” said McLaughlin.

Off the Tracks, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-83

◗ Pletcher said he doesn’t expect Off the Tracks to be on the lead in the Test, as she was in the Mother Goose. She breaks from post 7.

“We’re not going to take away what comes easy for her, but if she gets outfooted a little from that post, it shouldn’t be detrimental,” he said.