Steady run all Adore the Gold needs

Adore the Gold, an impressive winner of a stakes when he made his two-turn debut two starts ago, will shorten up to seven furlongs for Saturday's $85,000 H. Steward Mitchell Stakes for 2-year-olds at Laurel Park.

Based at Delaware Park with trainer Mike Gorham, Adore the Gold easily won his first two starts, including the $100,000 Dover by 2 1/4 lengths at his home track.

In the Grade 3, one-mile Nashua at Aqueduct last time out, Adore the Gold made a middle move to secure second after six furlongs before tiring to finish fifth.

If Adore the Gold runs back to either of his first two races, in which he earned Beyer Speed Figures of 97 and 90, he should handle his nine rivals in the Mitchell.

His two most serious challengers appear to be Keeneland Kid and Tricky's Tick Tock.

Keeneland Kid beat more than half the field in his first start against winners going seven furlongs over Keeneland's Polytrack in October, then ran second, 3 3/4 lengths clear of the third-place horse, in the mile and 70-yard Storm Cat at the Meadowlands.

Tricky's Tick Tock has won 2 of 3 starts for high-percentage trainer Larry Jones, including the $91,000 Iowa Stallion Futurity at Prairie Meadows. He has been freshened since finishing fourth in the Iowa Cradle three months ago.

Cahill's Touch, unbeaten in two starts, and Moving on the Wind, 3 for 3 running strictly in claiming company, are both stepping up into the stakes ranks for the first time.

Cahill's Touch has yet to run on a fast track, but has already been versatile enough to post dominate wins going 5 1/2 furlongs and one mile.

Moving on the Wind is 3 for 3 and has moved forward in each of his races, from a 36 Beyer in his career debut to an 80 last time out. His wins have come by a combined 14 lengths. He will be making his first start since he was claimed by trainer William Downing.

* The Toddler Stakes for 2-year-old fillies was canceled when only four entered. Racing secretary Georganne Hale tried to bring back the stakes as a six-furlong race on Sunday, but it still failed to fill, apparently because trainers were reluctant to take on stakes winner Spectacular Malibu.