SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Vive Veuve has improved with each successive start since coming to the United States and joining trainer Jack Sisterson’s barn last fall. Another forward move may be all it takes to give the 3-year-old filly her first graded stakes victory when she faces nine well-matched rivals, including likely favorites Oversubscribed and Sweet Rebecca, in Saturday’s Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga. Vive Veuve will return to a mile on Saturday for the first time since earning her diploma at the distance in her 2024 debut this winter at Gulfstream Park. In her most recent start, Vive Veuve, a daughter of Collected, finished third, beaten just a length, after joining for command in early stretch of the nine-furlong Wonder Again on May 27 at Aqueduct. The result makes her the only Grade 2-placed member of the Lake George lineup. “We had to try her at a mile and one-eighth. She made a winning move, then flattened out a bit and I just think the distance got her beat that day,” Sisterson said. “So I’m really looking forward to cutting her back on Saturday. “She’s always had talent and has just continued to mature and learn how to relax in the mornings, which has helped her in the afternoons as well.” Vive Veuve comes into the Lake George off a sharp 46.80-second half-mile work over the Oklahoma turf course on Sunday. :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports straight from the morning workouts at the track. Available every race day. “I really don’t like to work them that quick, but she did it very well within herself,” Sisterson said. “She’s become a very versatile filly, and I think she’ll place herself wherever Ramon wants her to be.” Sisterson was referring to jockey Ramon Vazquez, who will be aboard Vive Veuve in the absence of her regular rider, Javier Castellano, who will be riding at Monmouth Park. Oversubscribed put in a powerful late run in the one-mile Wild Applause on June 22 to readily overtake the leaders and impressively win going away by 3 1/4 lengths while making her stakes debut in just her third career start for trainer Chad Brown. She earned a career- and field-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. Oversubscribed could vie for favoritism with her stablemate, Sweet Rebecca, who looks to bounce back from a disappointing fifth-place finish as the 3-5 favorite in the Wonder Again. Her chances were compromised when she bobbled suddenly and briefly lost her action while seemingly cruising to the lead on the second turn. Manama Gold, who will be making her turf debut for trainer Todd Pletcher, figures to benefit from the lack of overall speed in the lineup. Manama Gold joined Pletcher’s barn shortly after her victory in the Group 3 U.A.E. Oaks going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt this winter at Meydan. She finished a distant second after stumbling at the start of the six-furlong Jersey Girl when finally making her U.S. bow here on June 6. :: Gain a competitive edge at Saratoga with DRF's premier handicapping data — purchase our meet packages today and bet with confidence. “She has a full sister who ran very well on the grass, so just looking at our options, the Coaching Club or maybe waiting for the Test, we decided to work her on the turf and she worked very well in company with Emmanuel,” said Pletcher, when asked to explain his decision to switch Manama Gold to the turf on Saturday. “I thought that was very encouraging, and timing-wise this race works out well, although it does not necessarily mean we’re committed to the turf with her moving forward.” Pletcher acknowledged that Manama Gold could have things her own way on the front end while stretching to a mile in this spot. “It looks like she should be on the lead, and I think that definitely could be to her advantage,” Pletcher said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.