Saratoga: Lighthouse Bay, Baby J set for Test

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Lighthouse Bay, winner of the Grade 1 Prioress in her last start, and Baby J, winner of the Grade 3 Victory Ride in her last race, both put in workouts early Saturday morning for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes.

Lighthouse Bay, working by herself, went five furlongs in 1:01.35 under exercise rider Cindy Hutter. Trainer George Weaver prefers to work Lighthouse Bay in company, but the filly’s regular workmate has a race coming up.

“She’s not a brilliant workhorse by herself, but she came back with enough of a blow that tells me we got what we needed out of it,” Weaver said.

The Test is run at seven furlongs and Lighthouse Bay has never raced beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, having won the Jostle Stakes at that distance in June.

“It’s a question mark for me,” Weaver said. “She hasn’t done it. For some reason I think she’s a stalking six-furlong horse, but since she’s not a go-to-the-front filly, I hope her style will help her get seven.”

Baby J is another who has yet to try seven furlongs. She is coming off a three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at six furlongs on June 29. On Saturday, she worked six furlongs in 1:14.61, with a final quarter of 25.20 while galloping out seven furlongs in 1:29.51.

“She finished up good, had a nice little gallop-out,” trainer Pat Reynolds said. “She should be ready.”

[SARATOGA 2013: Complete meet coverage, exclusive DRF videos]

Though Joel Rosario has ridden Baby J in her last three starts – two of them victories – he is committed to ride My Happy Face in the Test. Reynolds said Javier Castellano will ride Baby J.

Others expected for the race include I’m Mom’s Favorite, Irish Lute, Ju Ju Eyeballs, My Happy Face, So Many Ways, Sweet Lulu, and Wildcat Lily.