Kiaran McLaughlin, who had a solid finish to the Saratoga meet as he sent
out three of his nine winners over the final four days, is looking to continue
that momentum as Belmont Park’s fall championship meet gets underway.
Both Grade 3 Saranac winner Lethal Combination and Krypton,
the Grade 3 Hill Prince winner who was most recently third in the Grade 2 Hall
of Fame at Saratoga,
are under consideration for the Grade 1, $250,000 Jamaica Handicap at 1 1/8
miles on the turf on October 9, Artie Magnuson, assistant to McLaughlin, said
this morning.
Soldat, who also made a splash at Saratoga by breaking his maiden in the Grade
3 With Anticipation by three lengths on September 3, could make his next start
in the Grade 3 Pilgrim at 1 1/16 miles on the turf on October 3.
As well, a new entry to the barn, the German-bred filly Neon
Light, who was seventh in the Grade 2 Lake George in her American debut,
has an outside shot at running in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Garden
City, Magnuson added.
The filly worked a half-mile on the inner turf this morning
in 51.15, breezing, with the dogs up.
“We’ll keep one eye on the Garden City,” Magnuson said.
“We’re in no rush with her. She came to us in great shape; we just want to get
to know her better.”
The Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, the centerpiece
of Super Saturday, October 2, is one of several races possible for Redding
Colliery, beaten favorite in the Iselin at Monmouth Park
on August 21.
“That’s a race we’ll look at, depending on how it comes up,”
said Magnuson.
Magnuson added that Trappe Shot continues to do well
following his ninth-place finish in the Travers on August 28.
“He’s in training and is doing really well,” said Magnuson.
“We don’t regret at all going in the race. He was good on the day – but his two
worst races were both at Saratoga.”