the 2015 lake george stakes (grade 2)
Rain is in the forecast for this Grade 2 turf event at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies.
The amount of pace in this race makes me think that two of the favorites — CELESTINE and FEATHERED — will be pace-compromised here. So I'll go with the No. 2, MY YEAR IS A DAY, to vastly improve on her poor U.S. debut for Graham Motion back on Kentucky Oaks Day. She was very rank and got no pace to run into, but she still was beaten only six lengths back in fifth. With a stronger pace, I think she's tough.
The other Motion trainee is also likely a threat, as Velazquez gets off the No. 2 to ride the No. 3, JELLICLE BALL. I wouldn't read too much into that given how uncomfortable MY YEAR IS A DAY in her last — some jockeys simply don't get along with some horses, and that's that — but JELLICLE BALL has also been running against some stronger competition over in Europe. Granted, she hasn't been beating that stronger competition, but still.
Of the American contingent, I prefer No. 7, MISSISSIPPI DELTA. She had a tough trip and was well behind a pedestrian pace in her last at Woodbine, but she made a huge move on the turn and drew off to win by three lengths.
THE NONEEDTOCALLIT PLAY: $20 Win #2 MY YEAR IS A DAY, $10 Win #3 JELLICLE BALL, $10 Win #7 MISSISSIPPI DELTA, $2 exacta box 2-3-7
The amount of pace in this race makes me think that two of the favorites — CELESTINE and FEATHERED — will be pace-compromised here. So I'll go with the No. 2, MY YEAR IS A DAY, to vastly improve on her poor U.S. debut for Graham Motion back on Kentucky Oaks Day. She was very rank and got no pace to run into, but she still was beaten only six lengths back in fifth. With a stronger pace, I think she's tough.
The other Motion trainee is also likely a threat, as Velazquez gets off the No. 2 to ride the No. 3, JELLICLE BALL. I wouldn't read too much into that given how uncomfortable MY YEAR IS A DAY in her last — some jockeys simply don't get along with some horses, and that's that — but JELLICLE BALL has also been running against some stronger competition over in Europe. Granted, she hasn't been beating that stronger competition, but still.
Of the American contingent, I prefer No. 7, MISSISSIPPI DELTA. She had a tough trip and was well behind a pedestrian pace in her last at Woodbine, but she made a huge move on the turn and drew off to win by three lengths.
THE NONEEDTOCALLIT PLAY: $20 Win #2 MY YEAR IS A DAY, $10 Win #3 JELLICLE BALL, $10 Win #7 MISSISSIPPI DELTA, $2 exacta box 2-3-7