Test One-Two Back for Prioress

Cavorting (Bernardini) and Bar of Gold (Medaglia d’Oro), the top two finishers from Saratoga’s GI Test S. Aug. 8, cut back a furlong for Sunday’s GII Prioress S. The former, a ‘TDN Rising Star’ for Stonestreet Stables and Kiaran McLaughlin, annexed the GII Adirondack S. here last August, but was well beaten in both the GI Frizette S. in October and GII Davona Dale S. in February. She bounced back with a strong rally in Belmont’s Jersey Girl S. June 5, and inhaled 15-1 Bar of Gold late in the Test to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths.

“It was huge,” McLaughlin said of the Test. “Grade Is are hard to come by, and for a Bernardini filly and Stonestreet and the whole team, it was great. It’s a great race to win.” As for running back here, he said, “We just thought it’s straight 3-year-old fillies, it’s here and she likes this track. Let’s give it a try and then we can go to the Breeders’ Cup.”

McLaughlin also saddles Clothes Fall Off (Daaher), who was beaten a nose by Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Ride {Arg}) in a salty track-and-trip allowance July 25.

Bar of Gold thrashed fellow New York-breds in her first three starts, but settled for sixth after a poor break in Belmont’s GI Acorn S. June 6. A somewhat disappointing fourth in the GIII Delaware Oaks in her lone two-turn try July 11, the dark bay showed improved early speed last time in the Test and might have struck the front a bit too soon.

“My filly came out of her race in good order, and we’re kind of looking forward to running her back,” trainer John Kimmel said of the Broman homebred. “She does have tactical speed, and maybe she got out there by herself [in the Test] and got a little bit lost; that might have factored in. Cavorting is a big, strong filly and she made a great finishing kick. For her to make that kind of closing move, you sure have to like her chances. Going back another furlong might shift the pendulum a bit in our direction.”

Irish Jasper (First Defence) makes her first start since being purchased privately from owner/trainer Derek Ryan by W.S. Farish and David Mackie and sent to Chad Brown. The bay strung together three wins for her old conditioner, including Pimlico’s GIII Miss Preakness S. May 15 and Belmont’s GIII Victory Ride S. July 4. She closed from fourth to complete the superfecta last time in the Test.