Prioress perfect stepping-stone for Cavorting
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When Kiaran McLaughlin assessed the best way to get his 3-year-old filly Cavorting to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, he kept coming back to Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga.
Cavorting is coming off a victory in the seven-furlong Test Stakes here four weeks ago, and the Prioress affords her the opportunity to run on a track at which she is already a multiple stakes winner while facing her own age group one more time. Also, by running Sunday, Cavorting will have 55 days to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
McLaughlin considered running Cavorting in the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 19, but that race is 1 1/16 miles. There is the Charles Town Oaks on the same night, but that is a two-turn race. Belmont Park has the $300,000 Gallant Bloom on Sept. 26, but that race is against older fillies and mares.
“The best-case scenario was to run here,” McLaughlin said. “We hope.”
Cavorting will face 10 rivals in the six-furlong Prioress. She rallied from last to defeat nine rivals in the Grade 1 Test under a picture-perfect ride from Irad Ortiz Jr., who is back aboard again Sunday.
Cavorting will break from post 10 outside of the speed, which includes Tricky Zippy, Hot City Girl, and Ekati’s Phaeton.
Bar of Gold and Irish Jasper, second and fourth in the Test, are back in this field. Fusaichi Red, for the white-hot barn of trainer George Weaver, and Paid Up Subscriber are two closers who figure to try to move with Cavorting.
The Prioress goes as race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Cavorting (Last 3 Beyers: 93-100-41)
◗ Another reason McLaughlin doesn’t mind running Cavorting back on four weeks’ rest is that “she did not run a top figure last time.”
◗ Cavorting is undefeated in four starts at seven furlongs or shorter, including the Grade 2 Adirondack here last summer.
:: DRF Bets Exotic Summer: Get a 20% bonus on all winning trifectas Sunday at Saratoga
Fusaichi Red (Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-67)
◗ Won two races in 13 days, including the Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 19.
“Her last two races she really ran big,” Weaver said. “She benefitted from them going really fast last time, but hopefully with the large number of fillies signed up for this, she’ll get a similar setup.”
From Aug. 21 to Sept. 3, Weaver won 8 races from 21 starters, including with 5 of his last 7.
Irish Jasper (Last 3 Beyers: 81-89-89)
◗ Shortens up to six furlongs after finishing fourth, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, in the Test, a race that ended a three-race winning streak.
◗ She has switched barns from Derek Ryan to Chad Brown, who over the last three years is 7 for 32 (1 for 3 on dirt) with a $2.12 return on investment with horses making their first start for him in a graded stakes.