Lake Lady and Miss Lodi, two of the most talked about 3-year-old fillies at Fair Grounds last season, finally hook up in Saturday's $100,000 Victoria Lass Handicap in New Orleans. They are part of a competitive eight-horse field entered for the six-furlong event for older fillies and mares. Lake Lady, who like Miss Lodi will carry 116 pounds, makes her debut for her new trainer Bret Calhoun. She was a runner-up in Fair Grounds Oaks and the Fantasy Stakes (both gr. II) before sitting out the rest of the year for trainer Steve Asmussen. Owned by Coast To Coast Racing Fund, Lake Lady returns to sprinting for the first time since winning the Thelma Stakes here last year. Eddie Martin Jr. gets his first opportunity to ride Lake Lady. Miss Lodi blossomed a little later in last year's Fair Grounds meet, breaking her maiden at first asking before going on through allowance company and eventually into graded stakes. She has burned up the work tab in anticipation of her return, firing a string of bullets for trainer Tom Amoss. The 4-year-old Mr. Greeley filly won the Safely Kept (gr. II) at Pimlico in September before shipping to Keeneland for a second-place finish in the Raven Run Stakes. Robby Albarado gets the call on the slight 3-1 morning-line favorite. The top three finishers from the Pan Zareta also join the field, including Louisiana-bred winner Fuse It, who carries top weight of 118 pounds.
Owned by Rowell Enterprises Inc. and trained by Sam Breaux, Fuse It has won her last two starts with Gerard Melancon in the irons. $100,000 Victoria Lass Handicap, fillies & mares 4 & up, 6 furlong
PP. Horse (Jockey, Wgt.)
1. Charmed Gift (Corey Lanerie, 114)
2. Cinnful Bride (Lonnie Meche, 109)
3. Fuse It (Gerard Melancon, 118)
4. Princess Jen (Calvin Borel, 113)
5. Miss Lodi (Robby Albarado, 116)
6. Distinctive Code (Shane Sellers, 114)
7. Stonington (Willie Martinez, 111)
8. Lake Lady (Eddie Martin Jr., 116)