McLaughlin feeling at home in winner’s circle

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For Kiaran McLaughlin, Saratoga – specifically the Saratoga winner’s circle – is indeed the August place to be.

After going 1 for 9 in July at the Spa, McLaughlin has won with six of his last 10 starters, including victories in Saturday’s Grade 1 Test with Cavorting and in Sunday’s $100,000 Alydar Stakes with Bay of Plenty.

The Test was particularly pleasing to McLaughlin, who had circled the race following Cavorting’s victory in the Jersey Girl Stakes on June 5 at Belmont. Cavorting, who is now 4 for 6 in her career, will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

McLaughlin likely will run Cavorting only once more before the Breeders’ Cup, and his options include the Grade 3, $350,000 Charles Town Oaks at seven furlongs on Sept. 19; the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 19; and the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont on Sept. 26. The Gallant Bloom is against older fillies and mares.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do yet,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin also was uncertain where to point Bay of Plenty, who won the Alydar Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths. He ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.92 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

“The pace scenario was excellent, but he was running,” McLaughlin said, noting that Bay of Plenty ran an opening half-mile in 46.84 seconds and six furlongs in 1:10.94. “I was a little concerned it might have been too fast, but I loved the rhythm that he was in and nobody pressing him.”

McLaughlin said he would consider the Grade 1, $600,000 Woodward here on Sept. 5 or the Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso on Oct. 3 for Bay of Plenty’s next start. McLaughlin said he’s hoping to avoid facing Liam’s Map, who led to the final strides in the Grade 1 Whitney on Saturday.

“We’ll nominate to the Woodward in case a lot of those [Whitney horses] go elsewhere,” McLaughlin said. “Liam’s Map would be tough on us pace-wise.”

McLaughlin also won maiden races over the weekend with Zennor and Watershed, both of whom likely will point to allowance races.

McLaughlin’s only runner over the next two racing days is Antrim Colleen, who runs in Wednesday’s 10th, a maiden $40,000 claiming race scheduled for the turf.