Classic Q Aims for Second Straight Saratoga Win in Lake George

Classic Q Eyes Back-to-Back Stakes Wins at Saratoga Race Course

Hugh Dailey, Gary Barber, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Classic Q are set to compete in the $175,000 Lake George (G3) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday. The race will be a test of endurance for the 1 1/16-mile inner turf event, where the filly aims to secure her second consecutive stakes victory.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Classic Q entered the Lake George after a gate-to-wire win in the Wild Applause (L) on July 3. She demonstrated strong performance throughout the race, setting splits of 23.34 seconds, 46.46, and 1:10.25 under jockey Jose Ortiz. She maintained her lead and eventually defeated Play With Fire by half a length, finishing in 1:33.21. This performance earned her a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Casse expressed satisfaction with the win but noted that he doesn’t necessarily believe his filly needs to lead the race. “There wasn’t any speed in the race last time,” he said. “I prefer and I think Jose prefers to try and get her to settle.” Casse also highlighted that the filly is training well and enjoys the conditions at Saratoga.

Classic Q’s journey to this point has included several notable performances. Her first four starts were at Gulfstream Park, where she won at second asking in January before competing in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie, where she narrowly missed the show. She later finished fourth in the Sanibel Island (L) and then secured an emphatic win in an allowance race at Churchill Downs.

The filly was purchased for $40,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is bred in Kentucky by Winning Bloodstock. She is the daughter of the Scat Daddy mare Lovely Em, who also produced the stakes-placed Copper Em.

Competitors in the Lake George

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown is aiming for an eighth win in the Lake George with two of his horses from the Wild Applause: Play With Fire and Lavender Disaster. Brown has previously won the Lake George with horses like Mrs McDougal, Ancient Secret, Regal Glory, and others.

Play With Fire, trained by Brendan Walsh and now under Brown’s care, captured the Listed Hilltop in May. She is out of the Street Sense mare Streaming Fire and is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner City Attraction.

Lavender Disaster, owned by Peter Brant, has won two of her four starts. She graduated on debut at Belmont and returned to form with a three-quarter length victory in an allowance race. She recently placed third in the Wild Applause.

Daisy Flyer, trained by Rusty Arnold, is another contender. She won at second asking in September and has shown promise despite some challenges. Out of the Galileo mare Starstruck, she is a half-sister to several stakes-placed horses.

Other Notable Entrants

The field includes multiple stakes-placed horses such as Reining Flowers, Pretty Lavish, Princess Attitude, Good Long Cry, Aterradora, and Pookie. Each of these horses brings a unique background and racing history to the competition.

Reining Flowers, trained by John Ortiz, and Pretty Lavish, under Graham Motion, have both shown strong performances in recent stakes races. Princess Attitude, trained by Victoria Oliver, and Good Long Cry, under George Weaver, are also expected to compete closely.

Aterradora, trained by Mike Maker, and Pookie, under Tom Morley, are maiden winners looking to make their mark in the race. Kay Cup is entered for the main-track only, adding another layer of competition to the event.

With a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, the Lake George promises to be a thrilling race that could determine the next champion in the 1 1/16-mile inner turf event.