Saratoga: Carnival Court preps for Alabama

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Carnival Court, the Darley-owned half-sister to 2011 Alabama winner Royal Delta, prepared for her own bid at the Grade 1 Alabama – to be run next Saturday – by working four furlongs in 50.67 seconds Saturday morning over the synthetic surface at her owner’s Greentree training center.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he was looking for an easier work than last week, when Carnival Court worked five furlongs in 1:00.12 in company over the main track.

Though Carnival Court is coming off simply a first-level allowance win last out at Belmont, McLaughlin feels it’s worth taking a shot against division leader Princess of Sylmar.

“Short field, mile-and-a-quarter, she wants the distance,” said McLaughlin, who won last year’s Alabama with Questing. “She has to step up, but it looks like the one to beat is [Princess of Sylmar] coming from off the pace, so maybe we can make the pace and get a piece of it.”

McLaughlin said that Carnival Court will race on Lasix for the first time in the Alabama after scoping with a little blood following a recent workout.

Others pointing to the Alabama include Fiftyshadesofhay, Marathon Lady, Montana Native, and possibly White Rose.