There aren’t many times that trainer Jorge Duarte will over-reach with one of his Colts Neck Stables runners, but there are always exceptions.

The next two Saturdays seem to fit into that category.

Duarte will first send out Serene Spirit in Saturday’s featured Blue Sparkler Stakes at 5½ furlongs on the grass (weather permitting) for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.

A week later his tentative plans are to enter National Law in the $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes off a fourth-place finish in the NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes on June 14, a race that Bracket Buster – another expected Haskell starter – won by seven lengths.

“We’re usually very conservative but there are times when you have to change things up a little bit,” said Duarte. “I know this: If I am going to reach for something it’s going to be in a $1 million race.”

National Law, a $250,000 yearling purchase, has had an eventful career. Following a race at Colonial last Sept. 7 he underwent myotenectomy surgery to correct a breathing problem.

In his next start, a Maiden Special Weight route race at Parx, he opened up a seven-length lead before drifting so badly in the stretch that he finished close to the grandstand rail. He won that race by 1½ lengths.

“We still think the horse has more,” said Duarte. “Looking at the Pegasus he probably should have been second. He ran four or five wide the whole race and pressed at the five-eighths pole.

“You were not going to beat the winner but the track condition (sloppy) may have played a role. I don’t think he disliked it but I don’t think he loved it either, because he was training so well going into that race.”

A Kentucky-bred son of Constitution, National Law won his 3-year-old debut in an optional claimer at Pimlico on May 11 at a mile and a sixteenth before making his first stakes try in the Pegasus.

Serene Spirit, meanwhile, enters the Blue Sparkler Stakes off a ninth-place finish against older allowance horses at a mile on the turf at Monmouth Park on June 1 in her 2025 debut. She broke her maiden last year going a mile on the grass before being overmatched in the Grade 3 Matron during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet last Oct. 6.

“I think there’s a misconception when you run against older like she did in her last start,” said Duarte. “These allowance races against older horses are not necessarily easier than a 3-year-old stakes race.

“The older fillies she ran against were pretty solid so it’s not a crazy thought to run against straight 3-year-olds in a stakes race. I want to sprint her even though, on pedigree, she wants to go longer. I trained the mare (Misericordia) and she was more of a sprinter.”

Duarte is adding blinkers for this start for the homebred daughter of Speightstown.

“She has natural speed. We tried to get her to relax and rate her in her last start but she gave (jockey) Joe Bravo a light of fight,” he said. “We just said `let’s cut her back and see how she runs.’ Paco Lopez (listed to ride) breezed her on the turf from the gate and he was very happy with her so we’re taking a shot.”

The Blue Sparkler attracted a field of nine plus two main track only entrants. Two potential starters – Gata Brazil and Laurice – are cross-entered in the Grade 3 Coronation Cup at Saratoga on Saturday.