McLaughlin likes Carnival Court’s chances
Filly goes for first graded stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kiaran McLaughlin knows Carnival Court is ready for Saturday’s Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
The 3-year-old filly, who recently won a one- mile allowance/optional claimer by a neck at Saratoga, will take on a tough field of five others, but with a pedigree that includes half- sister Royal Delta, who won the Alabama in 2011, McLaughlin, who trains Carnival Court, is confident in her chances.
“She wants the mile and a quarter,” McLaughlin said. “She’s doing well and we think that she will run well.”
Of course, the Alabama isn’t the easiest of options for a horse’s debut in a graded stakes race. Even with the smaller field, Carnival Court won’t likely enter as a top favorite; that spot belongs to Todd Pletcher-trained Princess of Sylmar.
“Todd Pletcher is very tough,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a big step up. We wish we could have stepped up to an easier spot, but there aren’t too many mile-anda- quarter easier spots or any options at all.”
“It’s here, the timing was right and we thought, ‘let’s give it a try.’ We’re in tough, but we’re hoping that we’ll be forwardly placed.”
Despite the obstacles in front of her, there are still plenty of positives for Carnival Court heading into Saturday afternoon.
After all, the horse has won her last two starts, including a strong 12 3/ 4length victory at Belmont Park to break her maiden, and will once again be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. on Saturday.
Ortiz Jr. has ridden
Carnival Court in both of the last two victories and McLaughlin is confident that the jockey, who has been having a solid meet so far this summer, will be able to direct her in the Alabama.
“He knows her,” McLaughlin said. “I think he’ll put her toward the lead and we’ll see how it goes.”
While Carnival Court has been preparing for the 1 1/ 4- mile distance for quite some time, the most interesting storyline for the horse heading into Saturday is much more economical.
As the half- sister to Royal Delta, and the daughter of Street Sense, Carnival Court’s overall value looks to take a major bump should the horse be able to perform in the Alabama.
“If she can finish one, two or three, her value shoots through the roof,” McLaughlin said. “We’re hoping. That’s why we’re doing it.”
“There’s just so much value for her and all of us. If she happens to hit the board, it’s just fabulous.”
It certainly won’t be an easy task, even facing only five other horses, but Carnival Court’s chances in the Alabama are still looking good and McLaughlin is hopeful for the Darley Stable-owned horse.
According to McLaughlin, she’s been ready for this distance and is anxious to get onto the track. This horse is ready to run and, with two recent victories over seasoned competition already, she might just run to a stakes win and boost her own worth along the way.
“It’s a very tough race,” McLaughlin said. “We’re just hopeful that things go our way.”