For trainer Brian Lynch, the $150,000 Lake George Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on Wednesday appears to be déjà vu all over again, with his Florida-bred filly, Bay to Bay, drawing the outside post and facing the talented Strike It Rich.
The two fillies finished first and second last out in the Boiling Springs Stakes (G3) on Monmouth Park’s turf course June 26, with Bay to Bay starting from the far-outside No. 10 post. The speedy Strike It Rich was allowed to set an easy pace of 48.13 seconds for a half-mile in that 1 1⁄16-mile race, enabling her to save energy for the stretch run and hold on for a 1 ¼-length victory. Bay to Bay rallied from the back of the pack to finish second.
The Lake George also covers 1 1⁄16 miles on grass, and Bay to Bay drew the No. 12 post in a field of a dozen 3-year-old fillies, with three more on the also-eligible list. Strike It Rich drew the No. 8 post and likely will look to set the pace once more.
“It’s a shame that we got the outside post again and they put it on the inner turf course, which is a very tight course, so it’s a disadvantage to be on the outside,” Lynch said. “But fortunately, there’s a bit more speed in this race, so there should be a faster pace. We’re probably going to have to drop back after the break, and hopefully there will be a sharp pace and she’ll give us that big, exciting closing kick that she gives us all the time.”
Bay to Bay, a daughter of Sligo Bay bred at Adena Springs South in Williston, has been a model of consistency, finishing in the money in all seven of her starts and earning $327,578, making her the richest horse entered in the Lake George. She has three wins, including stakes scores on turf in the Natalma (G3) at Woodbine last September and the $200,000 American 1000 Guineas at Arlington Park in May.
Owned by Robert Smithen, Bay to Bay was a $35,000 purchase as a yearling at Keeneland in September 2008.
“She brings her game every time and is a very consistent and honest filly,” Lynch said. “She’s had two breezes since her last race, and she’s doing great, probably as good as we’ve had her going into a race, so that’s always exciting. Physically, she’s in great shape, and we’re just hoping for a little bit of racing luck.”
Robby Albarado, who steered Bay to Bay to victory in the American 1000 Guineas, has the mount. Bay to Bay was installed as the 4-1 second choice on the morning line for the Lake George, with Strike It Rich the 7-2 favorite.
Strike It Rich, a daughter of Unbridled’s Song, has won three straight races, including the $97,000 Little Silver Stakes at Monmouth Park in May, to improve to 4-for-6 on grass. She’ll have Garrett Gomez aboard for the third straight race.
The field also includes Florida-bred Crescenda (6-1), who drew the No. 2 post and will have Cornelio Velasquez aboard for the first time. The daughter of Bowman’s Band is a homebred for Bruce Walker and partners and is trained by Michael McDonald. The filly has two wins and as many runner-up finishes in four starts for $85,140.
Crescenda captured a $48,789 allowance by 1 ¾ lengths on the Keeneland turf in April before making her stakes debut in the Sands Point (G2) on the Belmont lawn in May and finishing second to Check the Label.
Among the other leading contenders in the Lake George are House of Grace (8-1) and Neon Light (9-2).
House of Grace won the off-the-turf, $150,000 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland last October before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. She finished third in her 2010 debut, a $50,000 optional claimer on the Belmont grass July 1.
Neon Light is a Group 3 winner in her native Germany and will be making her U.S. debut.
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– Photo of Florida-bred Bay to Bay by Four Footed Fotos
