McLaughlin Enters Three Fillies in Prioress

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has already annexed one of the most important races for fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course this year, saddling Cavorting to victory in the grade I Personal Ensign. On Sept. 4, the trainer will have not one but three chances to add another victory when he sends out Kareena, Takrees, and Coniah to face an expected seven other 3-year-old fillies in the $300,000 Prioress Stakes (gr. II).

Unlike Cavorting, who was already a grade I winner when she won last year's Prioress, McLaughlin's threesome will try for their first graded stakes win in the six-furlong sprint.

"The reason we entered three is that it's a really prestigious race," McLaughlin said. "It's one of the last straight 3-year-old filly sprints. ... Coniah we just got from California for a new owner [James McKenney], who wanted to run in the race. I said 'sure.'

"I don't know if he knew I was running two others," he added with a laugh. "They're all different owners, so we're trying to win the race with whoever might win it. We'll be happy first, second. or third. Or we'll be like Chad [Brown], he's been 1-2-3 in a race before. Actually, we'd like to hit with any of them."

Godolphin Racing's Kareena has made one appearance this summer at the Spa, sent off as the 7-5 favorite in the Test (gr. I) on Aug. 6 off a 5 1/2-length maiden win at Keeneland followed by a 6 1/4-length score in the Jersey Girl at Belmont Park. When the gates opened for the Test, however, the Medaglia d'Oro filly got caught up in a speed duel with Off the Tracks, blazing through an opening quarter-mile in :21.74 seconds and a half in :43.50 before tiring to finish sixth.

Takrees, who carries the Shadwell Stable colors, was a late-closing winner of a first-level allowance on opening day of the meet. In her lone prior stakes start, the Daaher   filly was second, beaten a neck by Lost Raven, in the Cicada over the inner track in March at Aqueduct Racetrack.

A California-bred daughter of Harlington  , Coniah has made three starts as a 3-year-old, finishing second in an optional claimer in January at Santa Anita Park. She returned in July to run second in the California Governor's Cup at Sacramento and third facing older fillies and mares in the Rancho Bernardino Handicap (gr. III) at Del Mar.

Mother Goose (gr. I) winner Off the Tracks, who wound up third in the Test, returns for trainer Todd Pletcher. Owned by Newtown Anner Stud Farm, the Curlin filly has been nothing but consistent since joining Pletcher's stable in April, finishing third in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) and second in the Acorn (gr. I) as well.

Pletcher also brings back Lost Raven, most recently a front-running winner in an off-the-turf edition of the Coronation Cup on Aug. 1. Expected to attract considerable support is the Phil d'Amato-trained Coppa, whose gritty neck victory in the Victory Ride (gr. III) in July at Belmont extended her record to 3-for-3.