The Lake Placid – (Grade ll)

Purse $400.00 – For Fillies Three Years Old

One Mile – InTurf

Saratoga – August 29, 2026

What a card we have on tap this Saturday at Saratoga for Travers Day! Part of the loaded undercard will feature three-year-old fillies routing on the turf in the 23rd running of The Lake Placid. This race has remained relatively unchanged over the years, although the distance has gradually shortened. After being contested at 1 1/8 miles from 2003 through 2020, it was cut back to 1 1/16 miles from 2021 through 2024 before settling at its current distance of one mile. No owner has been more successful in The Lake Placid than Nakamura Stables, who sits atop the leaderboard with three wins. The stakes record was established last year in the first running at one mile, when Bears Stables’ Rain Rattle stopped the clock in 1:33.51. There’s a little bit of everything in this year’s field—from established graded stakes winners on the turf to up-and-coming allowance runners and one intriguing wild card making their first appearance on the grass. Let’s go ahead and take a look at each contender!

1. Matilda Jung – (Noblepark, N. Arroyo Jr.) Broke her maiden on the turf at the beginning of this year by two lengths going 7 1/2 furlongs. Connections stretched out this daughter of Jung to a route of ground after that, but didn’t get good results due to off-tracks. She was then shortened back up to a sprint in an N1X where she got her first allowance win. Matilda Jung continued on her upward trajectory after finishing second in The Wild Applause earlier last month. This Florida-bred comes out of the Grade Three Lake George at Saratoga, settling six lengths off the pace as the favorite. She closed nicely down the stretch, however fourth place was all she was able to accomplish. Needs a fast pace.

2. Breathtaking – (Big Guns Stables, F. Prat) One of the more accomplished runners entered this year with four wins in ten starts. She started off her career on the grass and cleared her first allowance condition before trying to get on the Kentucky Oaks trail. Breathtaking spent her spring on the West Coast, running in the Santa Ysabel and Santa Anita Oaks. She didn’t get enough points to make the starting gate, so connections entered in the Eight Belles going seven furlongs. At odds of 52-1, this New York-bred closed from ninth into third to be graded stakes placed. Breathtaking went back to the turf last time out and captured the Coronation Cup sprinting up at Woodbine. Longshot pick.

3. Undisputed Edge – (Mb Stables, P. Lopez) Trying the turf for the first time after five career races on the main track. Undisputed Edge broke her maiden at Woodbine in her third start on a muddy track against a three-horse field. She was a heavy favorite that day and went wire-to-wire pretty easily. Connections then stepped up this daughter of Walk Em Down into stakes company, finishing third in The Monomoy Girl. Last time out, Undisputed Edge was seen in the Grade One CCA Oaks at Saratoga with the outside post. She ended up getting fifth and didn’t make up any ground down the stretch. The dam is a graded stakes winner on the grass, so it makes sense to try the sod.

4. Avicea – (Mb Stables, B. Curtis) Bought at auction for $7.41 at the end of last year and was entered immediately into stakes company. Avicea continued to run on the dirt for her next three starts, never making it to the winners circle. It wasn’t until three months ago that we saw this California-bred make her first start on the grass at Turf Paradise. She went wire-to-wire in a ten-horse field and was caught at the wire the race after. We last saw Avicea at Monmouth Park in an N1X as the favorite. She went out to the lead again, but this time holding a four-length advantage heading into the stretch. No one was able to catch this filly and she ended up winning by three in the end. Could be dangerous.

5. A Cautious Mating – (Mb Stables, R. Santana Jr.) The last entrant for Mb Stables who was bought privately for $50.00 after an open allowance win. A Cautious Mating made her first start for her new connections in the Cincinnatian at Belterra Park as the favorite. She went to the lead in a small field, but got caught inside the final furlong to finish second. The West Virginia-bred still worked well enough in the morning to convince Mb to run in the Grade Three Lake George. She didn’t have any surprises and went out to the early lead by two lengths. Her lead was diminishing down the stretch, however A Cautious Mating held on and added a graded stakes win to her résumé.

6. Higgs P – (Greyfriars Stables, L H. Colon) This filly has already gone through plenty of adjustments in her six-race career, including barn switches, equipment changes, and varying distances. Greyfriars Stables came in and spent $231.01 on Higgs P at the auction back in June after a fourth-place finish in the Mamzelle. Her new connections removed Bute and added a shadow roll for her most recent start at Del Mar. It was in the San Clemente Handicap running one mile on the turf.  She looked to be in perfect striking distance, but failed to make an impression down the stretch. There will be no equipment changes this time around. A big step up is needed to turn the tables in here.

7. Missing Dress – (Our Athletes, J R. Velazquez) Turned heads after breaking her maiden by six lengths as a two-year-old. Missing Dress was entered in a Maiden $40.00 at Santa Anita going one mile on the turf. She was the overwhelming favorite that day and powered away late to score by an impressive margin. Since that effort, this Kentucky-bred checked off her first level allowance condition before moving up in graded stakes. She hit the board in the Appalachian and faded late in the Edgewood. Missing Dress was the favorite once again last time out at Saratoga in a five-horse field. It was a very nice effort, making every pole a winning one. This seems like a need-the-lead type to win.

8. Unfinished Symphony – (Luz International, T. Gaffalione) Winner of the Grade One Alcibiades last year as a two-year-old. Luz International bred this filly and she has the most purse money in this field with $551.00 in earnings. Connections tried to get Unfinished Symphony on the Kentucky Oaks trail at the start of the year, but wasn’t able to get enough points to make the starting gate. So, this daughter of Candlestick changed surfaces and pointed towards some grass races. She ran third and second against non-graded stakes company before taking on some salty rivals in the Grade Three Lake George. Unfinished Symphony closed from off the pace to get second. A contender.

– AJM

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES