McLaughlin points Bay of Plenty to Woodward

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Cavorting, who runs next Sunday in the Prioress, is just one of several stakes runners Kiaran McLaughlin will have on closing weekend at the Spa.

Bay of Plenty, who won the Alydar Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths, will run in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Woodward. On Friday, Bay of Plenty worked five furlongs in 59 seconds over the synthetic surface at the Greentree training facility owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing.

McLaughlin said Bay of Plenty works over that surface because he has a history of running down in his front ankles, which is also the reason he races with front bandages.

Also pointing to the Woodward are Coach Inge, Effinex, Liam’s Map, Mylute, Protonico, and Wicked Strong. Tonalist was expected to work Saturday, and a decision on his Woodward status would be made afterward.

For the Hopeful Stakes, McLaughlin will send out the duo of Sallisaw and Sticksstatelydude, both maiden winners at this meet.

Others pointing to the Hopeful include Bullet Gone Astray, Magna Light, Mrazek, and Uncle Vinny. Go Long and Greenpointcrusader are possible.

Other workers for McLaughlin on Friday included Wedding Toast, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps winner, who went a half-mile in 48.60 seconds, and Sentiero Italia, who went a half in 47.60 seconds, both over the synthetic surface.

Wedding Toast is being pointed to the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont on Sept. 26, while Sentiero Italia, the winner of the Lake George, is being pointed to the Grade 2, $500,000 Sands Point at Belmont on Sept. 12.

McLaughlin’s Grade 3 stakes winner Ocean Knight will make his second attempt at a return to the races when he runs in a salty second-level allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs here Sunday.

Ocean Knight hasn’t run since finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7. He was entered in a second-level allowance here Aug. 8 but was scratched after getting cast in his stall and developing swelling in a stifle.

This race includes Sassicaia and Juba, the second and third-place finishers from that Aug. 8 race, along with seven-time winner Doubledown Again and eight-time winner Doc Almon, who are in for the $62,500 optional-claiming price.

“He doesn’t have to win, but he’s doing very well,” McLaughlin said. “It’s been a while since he’s run.”

In the spring, McLaughlin trained Ocean Knight toward the Wood Memorial but ultimately pulled the plug and sent the horse to the farm for a freshening.