On the Friday before the Whitney at Saratoga, a field of eleven 3-year-old fillies contested 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon Turf Course in the $100,000 Lake George Stakes (G3). 5-2 favorite Rutherienne was a close second in the Boiling Spring at Monmouth Park in her last start, after winning the Sands Point at Belmont Park. Regret Stakes winner Good Mood was the 3-1 second choice over 8-1 third choice Sharp Susan, who was third in the Boiling Spring. 18,795 were on hand for one of Saratoga's twilight Friday cards, enjoying the sunshine and warm temperatures, as forecasted rains failed to materialize until after racing had ended.
13-1 outsider Dashes N Dots was allowed an uncontested lead through fractions of 23.13, 46.87, and 1:10.85 while favorite Rutherienne was unhurried near the back of the field under patient handling by jockey Garrett Gomez. Dashes N Dots tired entering the stretch to eventually finish ninth, as 10-1 Classic Neel, who had stalked the pace in fourth, moved up to take the lead at the 3/16 pole, pulling away to a 1 1/2 length lead in mid stretch. However, Rutherienne had just hit her best stride and found running room on the hedge. She closed well through the stretch to get up by a neck in a blanket finish in 1:40.34 over the firm course. 9-1 Lady Attack also rallied but came up just short, as did 8-1 Sharp Susan in third.
Results chart
Winning Garrett Gomez said, "Just before we came off the turn, I wanted to make my way to the outside to give her a clear run. But they started to clog up and a couple started wheeling out. It looked like I was going to have to go 10-wide to get out there. I was actually saving a lot of ground and as I was saving ground, I kept picking up leaders and I was making it more difficult to wheel her out. My only worry was about the 1/8 pole, when I had to come through on the last horse. It got a little tight for a second, but she never thought about it, I did. She's a nice, little filly. She gives 110% every times she comes out there. I wish they were all like that."
Winning trainer Christophe Clement said, "She's as game as she gets. She's great for this course because she is so handy. Garrett gave her a great ride. Sometimes, you get lucky; sometimes, you don't." Clement said she would start next in the Garden City at Belmont Park.
Second place finisher Lady Attack was next to last early on, and put in a very strong rally out five wide under jockey Calvin Borel but just missed. She improved her record to 2 wins, 1 second, and 0 thirds in 6 career starts with earnings of $85,878 for trainer Neil Howard and owner William S. Farish.
Third place finisher Sharp Susan raced in mid-pack most of the way, and had to come out wide to avoid traffic at the top of the stretch, but she finished well to gain a share of the purse. She improved her career record to 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 10 starts with earnings of $170,843 for owner WinStar Farm and trainer Bill Mott.
