In Return tries her first stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Following a much-improved effort with the addition of blinkers, In Return makes her stakes debut in the $60,000 Eatontown Staybridge Suites Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth. The 1 1/16-mile race is for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

ran competitively in her first two starts, rallying to be third and fourth against maiden special weights at Belmont Park. Trainer Alan Goldberg added blinkers for her third start, and the result was a strong front-running maiden victory last time out July 14 at Monmouth. Her Beyer Speed Figure improved dramatically, jumping to an 87 after she had earned Beyers of 68 and 76.

A repeat of the 87 would make In Return competitive in the Eatontown Staybridge Suites.

"She was meant to be a good one," Goldberg said. "We liked her a lot in both races in New York, but I ran her back too fast."

In Return made her debut May 21 and wheeled right back into action on June 1.

"She acts like she'll be okay," Goldberg said. "She's a big, strong filly who really gets over the ground, and the blinkers put her in the race a little sooner."

In Return will be spotting several rivals stakes experience, including , who finished second in the Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes here July 4.

owns the highest Beyer in the field, an 89, which she earned last time out at Delaware Park when she switched back to turf.

Desire to Excel out for the year

Desire to Excel will be sidelined the remainder of the season following a trouble-filled second-place finish in the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on opening day at Saratoga.

Desire to Excel won her first two starts, a maiden race at Aqueduct and the Astoria Stakes at Belmont, and was made the 7-5 favorite for the Schuylerville. She stumbled badly out of the gate and still finished second despite tearing her left front shoe half off.

"She's all banged up," said Kelly Breen, Monmouth's leading trainer. "She needs time off for her legs. It was a really hard race. She's at a farm in Kentucky and the owner [Dennis Narlinger] will see how she recovers before deciding whether to breed her. If not, I hope to see her back here next spring. It's hard to even talk about it, because she was at the top of her game."