Droselmeyr's Smile stands out in Lady Finger Stakes

Saturday’s card at Finger Lakes will feature two New York-bred stakes for 2-year-olds: the $116,550 Lady Finger Stakes for fillies and the $117,263 Aspirant Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Both races will be over six furlongs on the dirt.

In the Lady Finger Stakes, Droselmeyr’s Smile should be well backed off her three-length debut win Aug. 18 at Saratoga. Trained by Charlton Baker, she beat a group of New York-bred maidens in a six-furlong sprint on a muddy track and got a 65 Beyer Speed Figure.

Other key contenders include One Last Cast for trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddles his first starter at the Finger Lakes meet, and Salty Smile for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

One Last Cast was a debut winner against open company at Aqueduct in April, and her best finish in three starts since – all stakes – was a third, beaten 16 lengths, in the Lynbrook for statebreds at Belmont Park. In her most recent start, which came Aug, 25 at Saratoga, she finished sixth in the Seeking the Ante Stakes against New York-breds over six furlongs on the dirt.

Salty Smile finished third in her only start, a seven-furlong dirt sprint at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

Two other maidens in the Lady Finger Stakes are Scatback and Scintillation, while first-time starters Indy’s Lady and Wild Witch complete the field.

In the Aspirant Stakes, Looking Ready will be looking to double up off his maiden win at Saratoga on Aug. 17 in his second start. Trained by Bruce Levine, he figures to be close to the pace off of his gate-to-wire win against New York-bred maidens over six furlongs. He earned a 68 Beyer.

Mr. Pete is the only horse in the field with stakes experience, having finished fifth in the Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25. Mr. Pete defeated Collective Effort by a half-length in his maiden win two starts back at Belmont Park on July 15. Collective Effort has been second or third in all three of his starts, including a third at Saratoga on Aug. 7 for trainer Raymond Handal.

Baker will saddle two runners in the Aspirant, Paynter’s Prize and first-time starter Al’s Nightmare, while the other three horses in the field have all made starts over the Finger Lakes surface. Tender Boy and Lover’s Leap each won a maiden race at Finger Lakes, while Chetan was second in his career debut Aug. 22 and could have an impact on the early pace.