Lucifers Lair can add to Pletcher's haul in Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After winning five races this past week, including a pair of stakes with Spinoff and Nonna Madeline, Todd Pletcher enters the new week atop the Saratoga trainer standings with 16 wins. On Wednesday, Pletcher will seek to keep the hot streak going and add another notch to his stakes résumé when sending out Lucifers Lair as one of the favorites in the Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack for 2-year-old fillies.

Lucifers Lair is one of only six horses entered for the Grade 2, 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack, the second of three graded stakes for juvenile fillies to be decided at the meet along with the Grade 3 Schuylerville, won by Dayoutoftheoffice on opening day, and the Grade 1 Spinaway on Sept. 6.

Lucifers Lair was sent postward the tepid 5-2 favorite in her debut here at 5 1/2 furlongs on July 19 and ran to her backing, prompting the pace before edging away to an easy three-length victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. Although the effort was visually impressive, Lucifers Lair, a daughter of Quality Road, received a relatively weak 57 Beyer Speed Figure for her performance.

“She certainly trained well enough up to her debut and we expected her to make a good showing,” said Pletcher, who seeks to tie his former mentor D. Wayne Lukas by winning the Adirondack for the sixth time. “We felt like we had a good foundation of fitness in her and I was happy with her performance, not surprised by it.”

Pletcher acknowledged the speed figure for the race came up a little weak.

“The number came up a little bit slow, but I don’t know what else you could have asked her to do, really. Win by 10?” Pletcher said. “Her energy level has been great since the race. We weren’t committed to running until we saw how she was doing and she’s been so full of herself, we felt that there was no reason to wait. She’s got a good post and I think she’s a filly who wants more ground, so the extra distance should be in her favor. It’s a competitive field and hopefully, with natural improvement, she fits.”

Lucifers Lair figures to go postward among the betting choices in the Adirondack along with Make Mischief and Thoughtfully.

Make Mischief was a game winner of her debut against New York-breds at Belmont Park on June 18 for trainer Mark Casse, who won this race a year ago with Perfect Alibi. Make Mischief then jumped forward with a much improved effort four weeks later when finishing second behind Dayoutoftheoffice in the Schuylerville, an effort for which she earned a 70 Beyer, which is tops in the Adirondack field.

Thoughtfully was backed to 3-5 at first asking late this spring at Churchill Downs and did not disappoint, winning like an odds-on favorite should when drawing away to an 8 3/4-length victory for trainer Steve Asmussen. Thoughtfully has not missed a beat since arriving locally, topping off a series of five local works with a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.80 here on Aug. 3.

Ava’s Grace and Lilac Lace also enter the race off debut wins, the former posting a game half-length decision at Ellis Park, the latter winning a maiden race over the Keeneland turf in her only start.

Beautiful Farewell, still a maiden after two tries, rounds out the starting lineup.