A field of seven line up in the Lake George (G2) at Saratoga.
The Pick 6 at Saratoga went unsolved again on Monday thanks to a couple of longshots and we have a $245,278 carryover for Wednesday along with the $200,000 Lake George (G2) on tap for three-year-old fillies.
The Lake George drew a field of seven who will go 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf in the Wednesday afternoon feature. The Bill Mott trainee Tapicat is the 2-1 morning line favorite despite coming back off a 5 ½ month layoff.
The speedy filly comes into the race having won her last three starts before heading to the bench, her last outing a victory in the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in her stakes debut.
She figures to have some company up front as there is plenty of early speed signed up, which may set things up nicely for Kitten’s Dumplings (5-2) who rallied from 16 lengths back to win the Regret (G3) in her last outing at Churchill Downs.
There are no free squares in today’s Pick 6 sequence that starts with the fifth race at 3:08 ET.
5th: The sequence starts with a $20,000 maiden claimer that drew a field of 10 including a Michael Mareina entry that is the 8-5 morning line favorite. Work N Flirt showed speed and faded to finish sixth last out and takes a class drop out of maiden special weight company. Steve Asmussen sends out recent claim Inaflash (4-1) and Rudy Rodriguez sends out a pair of runners.
6th: This is an optional claimer but might as well be a stakes race. Vitoria Olimpica (7-2) is a Group 1 winner from Brazil, Turralure (10-1) missed winning the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) by a nose, Beax Choix (6-1) is a multiple stakes winner on turf and Mr. Commons (5-2) was only beaten three lengths by Wise Dan in the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) in his last outing.
7th: Another wide open maiden claimer, this one on turf going 5 ½ furlongs. The Rudy Rodriguez trained Blue Ballerina (5-2) is the likely favorite off the class drop. The barn has been on the chilly side the past few months and is 1 for 7 at the meeting here so far. Tony Dutrow sends out the class dropper Corinthianna (7-2), who showed speed and faded to finish ninth last out at Delaware Park going long.
8th: This is the only short field with just six lining up. It is an evenly matched group and not a sure spot to look for a single. Moment of Dixie (5-2) is coming off a runner up finish at this level While Girl Code (4-1) is coming off a runner up finish in the Lotka behind My Happy Face, who ran second in the Coaching Club of America Oaks (G1) last Saturday here.
9th: See below.
10th: This is not an easy way to end the day, a full field of 12 going in a $25,000 maiden claimer on turf. Where’s Danny (5-2) makes his second start since arriving in the U.S. and second off an eight month layoff for the Eddie Kenneally barn. Christophe Clement’s Lasso (3-1) has landed in the money in six of his nine starts and is dropping in class. This race will keep me up late.
Let’s head out to Saratoga for Wednesday’s featured race of the day:
Saratoga Race 9 The Lake George (G2) Post time 5:20 ET
6 Kitten’s Dumplings 5-2
1 Watsdachances 4-1
2 Tapicat 2-1
4 Maximova 6-1
Kitten’s Dumplings comes into the race off back to back stakes wins at Churchill Downs, taking the Edgewood two back and last out winning the Regret (G3) as the chalk. In her last outing she was outrun in the early going, came with a five run and finished up strongly to win by 2 ¼ lengths. Four fillies have come out of the Regret run back and three of them finished second in stakes in their next starts. Runner up Praia was second in the Virginia Oaks (G3), fourth place finisher Broken Spell was the runner up in the restricted My Princess Jess here at the Spa, and seventh place finisher Seaneen Girl landed in the bottom half of the exacta in the Iowa Oaks (G3) in her next outing. Our top pick broke her maiden over the Spa turf in her career and she catches a group here with plenty of early zip signed up. Joel Rosario sticks for the Mike Maker barn that is 1 for 12 so far at the meeting.
Watsdachances returns off a two month break here after checking in second in the Sands Point (G2) last out at Belmont Park in her second start off a 5 ½ month layoff. The winner of the race was Discreet Marq, who came back to win the New York bred Eventail in her next outing on July 4 at Belmont Park. She also has a win over the Spa turf, taking the PG Johnson here last summer at this distance. She should get a good tracking trip sitting just off what is going to be a lively early pace.
Tapicat is making her first start since taking the field gate to wire to win the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 2. She beat our top pick that day by 2 ¾ lengths. She is perfect in three starts on turf, breaking her maiden and passing her first allowance condition at Gulfstream Park. She was pricey in the sales ring, going for $725,000 and is in good hands with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who is 21% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.
Wagering:
WIN: Kitten’s Dumplings to win at 2-1 or better.
EXACTA: 1,6 / 1,2,4,6
TRIFECTA: 1,6 / 1,2,4,6 / 1,2,4,5,6
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