A field of nine fillies and mares line up in Wednesday’s $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) at Saratoga. (photo credit: © Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com)
Nine fillies and mares line up in the $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) on Wednesday at Saratoga led by Bell’s the One, but Reagan’s Edge might actually be the one.
Reagan’s Edge (6-1) makes her second start off the bench for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The filly placed in three stakes last year including the Prioress (G2) over the Saratoga main track last September. Jose Lezcano, who was aboard her last year in the Prioress reunites with the filly.
The Neil Pessin Bell’s the One is the 7-5 morning line favorite with jockey Corey Lanerie up for the ride. The mare won the Roxelana at Churchill Downs on June 19 in her last outing. She was third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) last fall at Keeneland.
“I’m really not scared of any sprint filly in the country right now, to be honest,” Pessin said. “It’s just a question of if she runs her race. If she does, she’s going to be tough to beat no matter who shows up. I respect them all, but I don’t fear any of them. I’m very confident in my filly’s abilities.”
The Bill Mott trained Lake Avenue (9-2) may be worth a look. She was beaten just a neck in the Bed of Roses (G3) at Belmont Park in the slop in her last outing.
Roxelana Stakes Replay
The Honorable Miss goes off as the ninth race on the 10-race card that gets underway at 1:05 ET with the rescheduled $75,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice which was originally carded for last Wednesday.
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Let’s head out to Saratoga for Wednesday’s featured race of the day:
Saratoga Race 9 The Honorable Miss Handicap G2 5:39 ET
2 Reagan’s Edge 6-1
9 Bell’s the One 7-5
4 Lake Avenue 9-2
7 Honey I’m Good 6-1
Reagan’s Edge
The DeVaux trainee is making her second start off the bench here and likely is going to end up a decent price in this spot. Off nearly a six-month layoff last out she stalked the early pace and made a mild late rally to finish third at Churchill Dows versus Alw-2 optional claimers as the beaten chalk. The only runner that has come out of that race to run back is the winner Jungle Juice who stumbled and lost the rider in the Clarksville at Indiana Grand. Last year our top pick won just one of her six starts but landed in the exacta four times including a couple of seconds to Frank’s Rockette. One of those was in the Prioress (G2) over the main track here last September. Two back before heading to the sidelines she ran a good second in the Safely Kept at Laure Park behind repeat winner Hello Beautiful, who won the What a Summer in her next outing. She has put in three good drills at Keeneland since her return effort and should move forward off that start.
Bell’s the One
The likely short priced favorite in here tracked the early pace, came with a four wide run and finished gamely to win the Roxelana last out at Churchill Downs going 6 ½ furlongs. It was her eighth win in 18 career starters. Two back she ran fourth in the Derby City Distaff (G1) behind three next out winners. The winner was Gamine who came back to win the Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos in her next start on July 5. Three back off a five-month layoff she was a solid second in the Madison (G1) behind Kimari. She won twice last year, taking the Derby City Distaff and the Winning Colors (G3) both at Churchill Downs. She owns a solid pace profile throughout with the edge in late pace numbers. She is 4 for 4 in her career at six furlongs and should get enough early pace in front of her.
Lake Avenue
The Mott trainee caught a sloppy track at Belmont Park last out in the Bed of Roses (G3). She tracked the early pace, took over the lead heading for home and battled on gamely to get beat just a neck at 5-1. The cut back to six panels is the main question mark. She has won from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, her lone start at today’s distance coming in her debut in October of ’19 where she was second. She has shown good tactical speed in her last couple of starts and should get a good trip sitting just off the pace in this spot. Mott has started off the meet well with five winners from 23 starters with a couple of seconds and thirds.
