Christmas Kid, who boasts a wealth of accomplishments in her nine-start career, will look for her third graded victory in the Aug. 17 Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga. The versatile daughter of Lemon Drop Kid has won on dirt, turf and Polytrack.
A ninth-generation stakes winner, Christmas Kid is the most seasoned filly in the field, with scores in this year's Tropical Park Oaks at Calder Race Course, Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, and Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland. Trained by James Jerkens and owned by Edward Evans, Christmas Kid has earned $583,587. She will enter the Lake Placid off a third-place effort in the July 21 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.
Also ready for action is Sharp Susan, winner of the March 25 Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream. The daughter of Touch Gold has a record of 3-2-1 from 10 starts and has earned $170,843 for Bill Casner and Kenny Trout's WinStar Farm and trainer Bill Mott. Hightweighted at 120 pounds in the Lake Placid, Sharp Susan last ran third in the July 27 Lake George Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga.
Another filly likely to pose a threat is Lady Attack, who recently resurrected her career after changing surfaces. After Lady Attack got off to a troubled start on dirt, trainer Neil Howard quickly decided to move her to the turf.
“She has a pedigree that seems to like the grass a little bit, and she has a turf foot and body to her,” Howard said. “Her first races were just OK on the dirt, so we were more grasping a little bit to find a good spot for her. We put her on the turf and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Lady Attack won her next two starts easily on the Churchill Downs grass in June and then ran second by a neck to Rutherienne in the Lake George.
“I expect her to run well (in the Lake Placid),” said Howard, who conditions the Mutakddimfilly for William S. Farish. “She came out of the Lake George well and has been training good. These races are all tough up here at Saratoga, especially the stakes, but if what she’s done so far is indicative of what can happen in the future, and she seems to keep improving, we feel like she is going to run well and have a shot.”
Rounding out the Lake Placid field are Communique, Clifton Bay, Limoncella, and stakes winner New Edition.
Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT), $150,000, Aug. 17, 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles, approx post 4:47 p.m. EDT
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Christies Treasure, 116, John Velazquez
2. Communique, 116, Julien Leparoux
3. Clifton Bay, 116, Edgar Prado
4. Lady Attack, 116, Calvin Borel
5. New Edition, 118, Gabriel Saez
6. Christmas Kid, 118, Garrett Gomez
7. Sharp Susan, 120, Kent Desormeaux
8. Limoncella, 116, Channing Hill
