Cavorting Outkicks Bar of Gold in Prioress

Even-money favorite Cavorting notched her third career graded stakes victory at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, sweeping widest of all into the stretch and outkicking Bar of Gold through the final furlong to take the 68^th edition of the Grade 2, $300,000 Prioress for 3-year-old fillies.

 

Breaking on top from post position 10, Cavorting was quickly eased back by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to run in fifth while long shot Ekati's Phaeton set pressured fractions of 22.35 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.37 for the half. Confronted by a four-wide wall of horses turning for home, Ortiz angled the Bernardini filly to the outside, where she hit her best stride and pulled clear to win by three lengths with Bar of Gold emerging from the pack to chase her home.

 

"Last time she broke a little slow but we were confident in the filly," said Ortiz. "Kiaran said, 'Let her break and be wherever she's comfortable.' She broke sharp, so that helped me. I let the speed go and followed the speed. When I asked her, she was there. I give credit to the trainer; she's not an easy horse to train. She's tough in the morning and he really does a great job with her. She's doing unbelievable right now."

 

Cavorting's time for the six furlongs was 1:09.47 as she added the Prioress to her victories in the Grade 1 Test in August and last year's Grade 2 Adirondack.

 

"Great trip," said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "She broke so sharp and Irad rode her great. She loves it up here at Saratoga, as we all do; but she's 3-for-3 up here so this was great. She was sitting close from the start and there was enough speed up front so it worked out well. We'll train her up to the Breeders' Cup from here because she likes a little more space between races."

 

For the win - her fifth in seven lifetime starts and third straight - Cavorting returned $4.30 and earned $180,000, fattening her bankroll to $842,000 for Stonestreet Stables.