Seven three-year-old fillies will compete for the top spot in Saratoga’s Grade III Lake George Stakes on Friday at 2:20 p.m. ET.
The 1 1/16m (t) race drew a surprisingly weak group of contenders with D J C Racing’s #1 Cavalia (Mordred, Plucky Companion by Faithful Companion), winner of the $100.000 CA-bred Campanile Stakes, being the only black-type winner. She followed that April 29 effort up by testing deeper waters in the Grade 3 Wonder Again Stakes on June 7 where she was beaten just three parts of a length for all the cheese. The black filly finished a mere .06 behind I Justwantthe Purple who achieved graded glory next up when annexing the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes.
D J C Racing and Cavalia’s main foe, #6 Tornado Warning (On High Alert, Motor Home by General Motors), comes from the barn of MB Stables who has won HRP’s Owner/Trainer Award five consecutive times. Tornado Warning was last seen finishing second in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes. The third place finisher that day, Speeding Slayer, returned to take the Grade 3 Penny Memorial next out. Like every filly in this race, Tornado Warning is lightly raced and improving.
#3 Conkerberry (Greek God, So Take That by Pink Panther) need make no apologies to the top two as she was beaten just three lengths by Noble Moment in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on May 27. She followed that up with a three-length win against first level allowance horses at today’s trip giving her the distinction of being the only filly in today’s race that has already won at 1 1/16m (t).
Stakes placed #7 Crude Humor (Ashkalani, Fade To Black by Charley Farley) rates an upset chance from the widest post. The two-time winner is working well for owner M.b.o. Racing Stable has performed admirably at today’s trip despite failing to register a win. She figures to make a run from last and is one of many capable of winning.
Mo Mentum Farm tried to get sneaky by running #5 Fearing Dalitierri (Dalitierri, Charleys Rainbow by Double Luc) in the $500.000 Woodbine Oaks on dirt. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing given the purse money, but it seems clear now that this lass wants the grass. She reminds of the “real” horse Voodoo Song, a recent wire to wire graded stakes winner on the turf, in that she too will try to go from flag fall to that’s all. She’s fast enough to make amends.
#2 Diplomatic Command (No Doubt About It, Diplomatic World by Diplomatic Immunity) just missed against statebred allowance company at one mile on the turf when last seen. She will surely appreciate the extra distance offered by today’s event and the way she finishes makes me think she certainly capable of taking all the marbles for owner Allinthegate.
The final horse to mention is #4 Five Million (Five Stars, Take 5 by Take A Million) is the one with the most work to do, but incredibly, she is also not out of the question for the top spot. Owner TwinTowersRacing bit off a bit more than she could chew last time in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes, but today’s event provides serious class relief. Her two back win where she closed from last showed enough promise to make you think anything is possible.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Throw a dart. They can all win.
Selections: 1-6-3
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
