My Princess Jess gets through

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In an eventful running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake George Stakes, My Princess Jess bulled her way through horses in midstretch and went on to a three-quarter-length victory over Alwajeeha in the first turf race of the meet at Saratoga.

It was two lengths back to Zee Zee in third. Receipt finished fourth with Stealin' Kisses and a troubled Mousse Au Chocolat finishing last as the favorite.

My Princess Jess covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.00 and returned $6.10.

It was the third straight victory for My Princess Jess and second in a row since being acquired by Lael Stable and turned over to Barclay Tagg. She is now 4 for 7 lifetime. But this win did not come without controversy.

My Princess Jess, under Eibar Coa, was rank heading into the first turn, but quickly settled down and raced in third position down the backside while Stealin' Kisses set the pace over the soft inner turf.

Coa kept Princess Jess on the rail, and in the stretch needed someplace to go. At the eighth pole, Coa found room between Stealin' Kisses, under Julien Leparoux, and Alwajeeha, with John Velazquez up, and she snuck on through. However, on her way through, My Princess Jess forced Leparoux to take up on Stealin' Kisses, and nearly put that horse into the rail.

Also in the stretch, Receipt came over on Mousse Au Chocolat, nearly unseating jockey Christophe Lemaire from Mousse Au Chocolat, who also had missed the break. The stewards posted the inquiry sign, but took no action.

"She had to split horses,'' Coa said. `"Johnny made kind of a half step in and I followed him and we kind of pushed [Stealin' Kisses] in a tighter position, but I think I was clear.''

D. Wayne Lukas, the trainer of Stealin' Kisses, called the stewards from the winner's circle to get their version of events, but the stewards declined to give it.

"I asked them 'Do you have to go over the fence or go down, what do you got to do?''" Lukas said. "They said we'll talk to you tomorrow if you want to come in. If that's the third race on Wednesday the winner comes down.''