Off the Tracks Hopes to Pass Test at Saratoga

Off the Tracks, wire-to-wire winner of the 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) in July, will shorten back up to seven furlongs in the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 6. The Test drew a field of eight 3-year-old fillies.

Off the Tracks, who overcame trouble to run second behind Carina Mia in the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) in June, has never finished worse than third in six lifetime starts. She has won sprinting, so the distance shouldn’t bother her here. Drawn outside of the other speed, Kareena, Off the Tracks should be able to work out a trip on or just off the pace. She soundly defeated her two main rivals here, Lewis Bay and Lightstream, in the Mother Goose.

“She is a filly who has always shown big potential,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “She’s had success around one turn, and I think she’ll handle the cutback to seven-eighths fine.”

Backers of Lewis Bay have reason for optimism. After stumbling at the start of the Mother Goose, she sat close to Off the Tracks and ran on for a solid second. The tracker also landed third in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) . She has shown the ability to kick late when winning the Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) and the Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II), and is another quality filly who has never been off the board in her seven starts.

Lightstream was undefeated, including a victory in the Beaumont Stakes (gr. III) this spring, until running third in the Mother Goose. While she ran evenly, she was never a threat on the win end. The cutback to seven furlongs may allow her to sit closer to the pace, and perhaps she is more comfortable sprinting.

Kinsley Kisses drew outside in the Test and has the speed to work out a good trip from there. She has rolled a trio of thirds in her last three outs, all in graded company, finishing behind Lightstream in the Beaumont. She also placed in the Black Eyed Susan (gr. II) and Delaware Oaks (gr. III) from on or near the pace. She, too, may prefer the seven-eighths.

Kareena will be making just her fourth lifetime start. She annexed the Jersey Girl Stakes last out, running away from her field to win the six-furlong event by 6 ¼ lengths. She is a speedy sort and a wild card in here. Paola Queen actually finished in front of Off the Tracks when second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) in April, but has gone the wrong way since, landing ninth in the Kentucky Oaks and fifth in the Acorn. She has a tough task from the rail here. One True Kiss finished third while kicking strongly in the Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III) a month ago. She was third, far in arrears of Kareena in the Jersey Girl, but could have things set up well if the others go too fast early. Malibu Stacy was second in the Victory Ride in a nice effort just after breaking her maiden. She is clearly on the improve but will have to continue progressing to be a factor.