Saratoga: Grade III Schuylerville, Lake George Headline Opening Day

By Rick Francis —-

Fillies take center stage on opening day from Saratoga Race Course with two-year-old’s sprinting in the Grade 3 Schuylerville followed by sophomore girls taking to the turf in the G3 Lake George; once again it’s a great card to kick off the 40-day meet.

Race 8) Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes 2YO Fillies 6 Furlongs Post Time 5:02 EDT

6) Tapping Pearl – Tapit filly broke clean, stayed clean and won clean in her racing debut; she’s the only starter in the field that has run the 6 furlong route to date.

1) Catherinethegreat – was second best in debut, then improved exponentially in winning last out by ten lengths; a win threat to stablemate.

4) Fightress – out of Tapizar, filly took to the Churchill mud in winning by almost five lengths last month; Casse family trifecta in play.

9) Lady Apple – Curlin daughter battled gamely coming up a neck short in the Astoria at Belmont, the toughest contest to date for this bunch.

Selections: 6, 1, 4, 9

Race 9) Grade Lake George 3YO Fillies 1&1/16th Miles Turf Post Time 5:40 EDT

3) Daddy is a Legend – out of Scat Daddy, filly makes her fifth straight graded start, game in her first four. She’s had a bit more rest for this start, and with a bullet over the Oklahoma training track, she’ll be ready to fire.

8) Heavenly Love – rallied late to miss second by a nose in the G3 Regret; Johnny V gets the call.

7) Altea – Brown goes to first time blinkers for this French-bred, a 23 percent conditioning angle; also goes to his main man Irad Ortiz, a 31 percent team.

5) Goodthingstaketime – Irish filly has put together four straight solid starts since coming to America; distance is perfect for her.

1) Punked – FIND a spot for this one.

The field from the rail out:

1) Punked (Brown/Castellano)
2) Going Out (Matz/Saez)
3) Daddy is a Legend (Weaver/Franco)
4) Nootka (MAIN TRACK ONLY)
5) Goodthingstaketime (Abreu/Ortiz, J)
6) Andina Del Sur (Albertrani/Leparoux)
7) Altea (Brown/Ortiz, I)
8) Heavenly Love (Casse/Velazquez)

Selections: 3, 8, 7, 5, 1