Lake George J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS

CONSEQUENCE (El Prado [Ire]) broke her maiden at first asking over Saratoga’s
turf last summer, drawing off to a three-length decision, and will enter
Friday’s $150,000 Lake George S. (G2) off her first stakes victory, a
half-length score in the American One Thousand Guineas S. at Arlington Park. The Shug McGaughey trainee finished very strongly last time, notching a triple-digit
BRIS Late Pace rating while completing her final quarter in a shade under 23
seconds, and we’ll look for her to make it two straight in the Lake George. John
Velazquez will return aboard the stalker.

LADY SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]), a full sister to once-beaten multiple
Grade 1 hero Shakespeare, will return to stakes company off a pair of allowance
scores at Woodbine for conditioner Roger Attfield. Unplaced in her lone previous
stakes attempt at two, the chestnut’s BRIS numbers have improved significantly
this season, and we like the jockey switch to Kent Desormeaux and rail draw in
this spot. She figures to offer good value (8-1 morning line) and looks capable
of parlaying a ground-saving trip into a strong showing here with her turn of
foot. We’ll tab her for the bottom of the exacta with the likely favorite.

MARY’S FOLLIES (More Than Ready) will bring a two-race win streak into her
first start for Richard Dutrow, including a half-length score in the Boiling
Springs S. (G3) last out at Monmouth Park, and the Kentucky-bred runner merits
serious respect in this spot. New York’s leading rider, Ramon Dominguez, will
pick up the mount in the bay filly’s Empire State debut, and nobody should be
surprised to see Mary’s Follies keep improving under the care of Dutrow.

KIAWAH CAT (Lemon Drop Kid) just missed by a half-length to Mary’s Follies when
second in the Boiling Springs, registering career-best BRIS Speed and Late Pace
ratings in the process, and the Bill Mott pupil is a threat to make her presence
felt here from post 9. The late runner figures to take back in an attempt to save
ground early, and we like the jockey switch to the talented Frenchman Julien
Leparoux. We’ll use the improving lass in out exotics.

KEERTANA (Johar) has won three straight, including the Regret S. (G3) two
starts back at Churchill Downs, and the Tom Proctor runner figures to be
forwardly placed in this potentially paceless race. Winner of the Indiana Downs Distaff
last out, Keertana will be stepping up in class on Friday, but
the honest performer has a winning attitude and can’t be dismissed from top
three consideration.

MISS KELLER (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) won’t be making her U.S. debut in the most
difficult spot, and the Irish handicap winner shows solid BRIS Class ratings from
her European starts. The Attfield runner seems a bit overlooked at 12-1 on the morning
line and might be worth a flier if the price is right, but we’re tempted to just
watch in her first start stateside. BE FAIR (Exchange Rate) figures to show
speed from post 2 in her turf bow and will attempt to turn things around
following five straight unplaced finishes. There isn’t much encouragement from
her pedigree — her dam dropped all three turf attempts and hasn’t thrown a turf
winner from four other starters — but Be Fair remains an interesting exotics
candidate as the possible lone speed.

THE BEST DAY EVER (Brahms) turned in a solid showing when a close second in
the Regret two back, but her seventh in the American Oaks last
time left a lot to be desired. She’ll have to rebound here without us. STRIKE
THE BELL (Mizzen Mast) narrowly missed when finishing second in the Perfect
Sting S. last time over yielding ground, but she owns lower BRIS numbers and we
can’t recommend her chances in her graded debut. She’s cross-entered to Sunday’s
1ST race at the Spa.

AIN’T LOVE GRAND (Dixie Union) will run only if the race comes off the turf,
and she’ll be tough to catch if that situation happens.