Top Grade for Stonestreet's Cavorting in Test

Stonestreet Stables continued its winning ways Aug. 8, when Cavorting rallied to win the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course.

Cavorting shifted into her top gear with an eighth of a mile to run and flew past Bar of Gold to register a clear victory in the seven-furlong stakes. The filly is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and was ridden to victory by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Cavorting sat well off an early pace set by Take Charge Brandi, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, who hadn't raced since her victory in the Jan. 31 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park because of an injury. Take Charge Brandi set decent fractions of :23.21 for the opening quarter-mile and :46.21 for a half-mile, with Bar of Gold and So You Say not far behind.

The leader was collared after six furlongs in 1:10.51 as the field turned for home. By the Moon, also reserved early, rallied along the rail, while Bar of Gold kicked in on the outside. The latter took the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile, but couldn't contain Cavorting.

Cavorting, by Bernardini   out of the Carson City mare Promenade Girl, was bred in Kentucky by Swettenham Stud. She paid $7.60 to win as the favorite in a field of 10 and covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.81 on a track rated fast.

The winner finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of 15-1 Bar of Gold, who had 1 3/4 lengths on By the Moon. Irish Jasper was fourth.

Cavorting, a $360,000 purchase by Stonestreet at the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, won the six-furlong Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park in her previous start June 5. Last year the filly took the grade II Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.

"We were cheering 'Cavort, Cavort' down the stretch," Stonestreet owner Barbara Banke said. "We bought her because she was a beautiful filly and she was rather spirited. We had to put her in her own paddock. I'm just so glad she got her grade I."

Cavorting was on the sidelines after an unusually poor performance in the Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park this past winter. Banke said the filly had "just a few issues," but was freshened and prepared for the summer season.

"She's back," Banke said. "She sure likes Saratoga. She's happy here."