SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Lover’s Key has lost just once in her last five starts – a second-place finish behind Lady Joan at Belmont Park in an early edition of the New York Stallion Series for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. Lover’s Key will have the opportunity to avenge that defeat when she and Lady Joan race again in the next leg of the Stallion Series. At one mile, it serves as the main event Thursday at Saratoga. Win or lose, owner and trainer Reid Nagle is just happy to be at Saratoga with his red-hot filly. The $100,000 stakes for New York-bred fillies marks the first time he’s started a horse here. “We brought her up from the farm in Virginia on Friday. I’ve been to the races every day since getting here. The place is beautiful, and it’s been a lot of fun,” said Nagle, who claimed Lover’s Key for $50,000 out of her 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park in January. “At first, I really didn’t think she was much horse,” Nagle said. “[Jockey Edgard Zayas] rode her for me the first time and suggested we try blinkers because he felt she didn’t seem to be focusing, and all of a sudden, she woke up.” Lover’s Key won her next three starts at Gulfstream Park before making the jump into stakes company, going seven furlongs at Belmont on June 25 and dropping a three-quarter-length decision to Lady Joan after contesting the pace. She came right back to defeat older, open company in wire-to-wire fashion at Belmont three weeks later. “The turf course was a little softer the day she lost in New York,” Nagle said. “I think she ran her race, I really don’t know if it had any impact on her staying ability or not.” Trainer Phil Serpe firmly believes the farther, the better for Lady Joan, who stalked Lover’s Key from the outset before becoming a stakes winner in her most recent start. “I wish it was a mile and a half on Thursday,” Serpe said. “Her mother ran long, and her grandam ran really long.” Paz the Bourbon, Carry Your Heels, and Silly Numbers, who finished third, fourth, and fifth behind Lady Joan at Belmont seven weeks ago, also return for the second leg of the series. Paz the Bourbon finished another three-quarters of a length behind Lover’s Key, looming a major threat turning for home before failing to kick on with the leaders. Carry Your Heels had to await racing room behind horses early in the race but also came up empty when clear at the end. She’s Dreamin, an impressive maiden winner in her last start, throws her hat into the stakes ring for the first time, as do Emiliana’s Hope and Hollywood Cat. Key Contenders Lover’s Key, by Frost Giant Last 3 Beyers: 77-76-77 ◗ Nagle said he doesn’t believe his filly has to be on the lead to win, even though she has been in front throughout in three of her last four victories. “I spoke to Junior [Alvarado] after the last race, and he said the only reason he went to the lead is because nobody else wanted it.” Lady Joan, by Courageous Cat Last 3 Beyers: 78-75-63 ◗ Although idle since June 25, she’s worked three times over the past four weeks, including a stamina-enhancing mile in 1:44 and change here Aug. 2.