Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey moved to within three victories of Angel Cordero Jr.'s all-time win record at Saratoga Race Course on Monday afternoon, as he guided Peter F. Karches' Seducer's Song to victory in the ninth running of the $113,900 Lake George (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the "good" Mellon Turf Course.The victory before 15,805 fans was Bailey's 637th win at Saratoga.Bailey picked up the mount from injured Jose Santos, who broke his collarbone on the final day of Belmont's spring/summer meet. Seducer's Song, a gray daughter of Unbridled's Song, has been no worse than third in four previous starts after failing in her debut; since moving to the turf after three dirt starts, she has won two of three starts and is now a graded-stakes winner."She's doing good," said trainer Christophe Clement, as Seducer's Song returned $15.40. "She improved on the turf. It's a shame Jose (Santos) couldn't ride her, but Jerry is a good substitute. I'm very happy for the owner (Peter F. Karches), he has been very supportive of the stable. He owned the mare and bred this filly, so I think it is a great success story."Bailey found himself far back of a slow pace of :25; :49 and 1:12 1/5, set by Art Fan, who had beaten the gate, and La Reina. Bailey was sitting on dynamite, however, and Seducer's Song uncorked a wide rally on the turn that carried her to the win in 1:42 "We were a little farther back, but once we got position going into the turn, with the slow pace, we had to play the hand that was dealt us," Bailey said. "She made a tremendous move around the far turn, which probably won the race for her. A few other horses probably got stuck in traffic or had to go around each other."The slow pace did not help favored Venturi, who was making her first start on Lasix as well as her first start in this country since shipping in from Ireland."She ran beautifully," said her jockey, Edgar Prado. "Unfortunately, there wasn't enough speed in the race for her to close on. I was able to get her to the back of the pack and have her relaxed before I made the final run with her. She ran hard and finished strong."
Fortunate Damsel was a nose back in third, and it was a neck to Art Fan in fourth. Lucifer's Stone, La Reina, Delta Sensation, Galloping Gal, Really American and Savage Beauty completed the order of finish. Capseside Lady, entered for the main track only, was scratched. (Chart, Equibase)
