Lake George

Ready’s Gal and John Velazquez used a perfect rail trip to score (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Rating just off a contested pace between Who’s Cozy (Cozzene) and Beaugeste
(Military) in Friday’s $111,000
Lake George S. (G3), James Scatuorchio’s READY’S
GAL (More Than Ready) settled into a good stalking position under John Velazquez
before finding room on the rail in the Saratoga stretch to just get up at the
wire. The Todd Pletcher-trained chestnut, sent off the 5-2 second choice in the
eight-horse field, stopped the clock in 1:41 4/5 for the 1 1/16-mile firm
turf event.

Tracking in third for the majority of the race, Ready’s Gal was kept in good
position while in hand along the backstretch as Who’s Cozy got the opening
quarter in :23 3/5 and the half-mile in :47 3/5. Beaugeste stuck her head in
front after six furlongs in 1:12, but the bay had done too much running on the
front end and began to shuffle back. Who’s Cozy regained the lead after a mile
in 1:36, but Dream Lady (Old Trieste) and Ready’s Gal, second and third, respectively, had begun to put in their closing runs. In midstretch, Dream Lady
impressively moved to even terms on the outside of the tiring Who’s Cozy, but
Velazquez and his mount found a seam on the rail and moved to the fore, drawing
clear in the final sixteenth. Dream Lady finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in
second, a neck in front of Who’s Cozy.

The winning lass returned $7.20, $4.50 and $3.50 while keying exotics of
$58.50 (exacta), $212 (trifecta) and $730 (1-7-3-6 superfecta). Dream Lady gave
back $8.30 and $5.80 at 10-1, and Who’s Cozy paid $5.50 for the show. Connie
Belle (Storm Cat) completed the superfecta and was followed by Wait It Out
(Swain [Ire]), 8-5 post-time favorite Laurafina (Cozzene), If It’s Meant To B
(David) and Beaugeste.