Lake George

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Only six sophomore fillies were entered for the turf in Friday’s $150,000
Lake George S. (G2), and the inner course at Saratoga will have some give to it
due to all the recent rain in the area. The connections of MOUSSE AU CHOCOLAT
(Hennessy) are probably excited about that prospect.

Runner-up in the Prix de Sandringham S. (Fr-G2) over a soft course at
Chantilly in her last outing, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained lass will bring
good form into her U.S. debut. Two starts back in her first appearance at three,
Mousse au Chocolat finished only three lengths behind the unbeaten French
sensation Zarkava (Zamindar) in the Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3) at Longchamp. The
Kentucky-bred wrapped up her two-year-old season with an excellent three-length
score in the Grand Criterium du Languedoc, and she’s proven to be a very
honest sort, finishing either first or second in six-of-seven lifetime starts.
We’ll give the dark bay lass the edge here.

MY PRINCESS JESS (Stormy Atlantic) looked like an astute purchase for Lael
Stables when capturing the Boiling Springs S. (G3) in her first start for new
connections, and the Florida-bred filly will bring a two-race winning skein into
the Lake George. She followed the Boiling Springs with a sharp bullet work at
Belmont, breezing five panels in 1:00 on July 15, and trainer Barclay Tagg wins
at a higher clip in graded stakes (22 percent strike rate) than overall (17
percent). My Princess Jess should be able to save ground from her rail post
under Eibar Coa, and we’ll look for another solid showing from off the pace.

ZEE ZEE (Exchange Rate) has raced on the front end in her last two outings,
including a respectable third to Pure Clan (Pure Prize) in the Regret S. (G3)
last out, and the gray filly ran well twice over the turf at Saratoga last year,
breaking her maiden before recording a runner-up finish versus males in the With
Anticipation S., which was captured by eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
winner Nownownow (Whywhywhy). Zee Zee will probably concede the early advantage
in this spot, but she’ll be up close under Kent Desormeaux, who will be waiting
for the right moment to strike.

ALWAJEEHA (Dixieland Band) probably doesn’t need firm ground to fire, but we
would’ve liked to have seen more from her last time in the Sands Point S. (G2)
over a “good” course at Belmont. She’s eligible to improve off that fourth-place
effort for Kiaran McLaughlin, and the bay miss figures to sit a good stalking
trip under John Velazquez. Alwajeeha is a logical top three candidate.

STEALIN’ KISSES (Sky Mesa) has improved since switching to the turf two
starts back for D. Wayne Lukas, but the speedy miss probably won’t get the soft
pace that her connections would love to see. She’ll also be tested for class
after squaring off against entry-level allowance foes in her last five starts.
We love Julien Leparoux on the weeds, but we can’t envision the dark bay “stealin”
this one.

RECEIPT (Dynaformer) recorded a nice maiden win over the weeds at Belmont two
starts back, but she jumps to stakes company for Shug McGaughey off a
fourth-place effort versus entry-level allowance rivals. We’ll give her a start
at this level.

FOREST TRAIL (Forest Wildcat) is entered for the main-track only, and the
McGaughey runner finished a solid second in the off-the-turf Little Silver S.
two starts back.