Seattle Lake runs on short rest

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Neither age nor the New York circuit have seemed to slow down Seattle Lake, a 7-year-old mare who appears to be racing equally as fast now as she has at any time in her 42-race career.

What must prove on Wednesday is that she can run just as well on two weeks' rest as she has when given two months between starts. If she handles the quick turnaround, she looms the one to beat in Wednesday's $65,000 Am Capable Stakes at Aqueduct as the inner-track meet kicks off its final week.

Last year, Seattle Lake won 5 of 7 starts while racing in the Midwest. Handicapping sheets guru Len Friedman claimed her for $60,000 last November at Hawthorne and shipped her to New York trainer Mike Hushion. In two starts over the inner track, Seattle Lake finished second to the repeat winner Fast Laner in the Dixie Flag Stakes and second behind the talented Gold Like U in an optional claiming race when offered for $75,000.

Seattle Lake had 54 days between those two starts. Wednesday, she will be running back on just 12 days' rest.

"Since we did space her previous races out, we felt this was the one time we could pull the trigger quicker,'' Hushion said. "She seems to have bounced out of her last race fine. This looked like a good spot; no reason not to go.''

Richard Migliore picks up the mount on Seattle Lake, who will break from post 3 in the seven-horse field.

In both of her New York starts, Seattle Lake benefited from a fast pace in front of her. That looks to be the case again on Wednesday with Electrical Carlita, Elke, Speed Bag, and Pretty Imposing in the field.

showed good speed when second to Phyllis Sassy Girl in a second-level allowance race over the inner track on Feb. 10. That was her first start for trainer Tom Bush, who had an inclination she would need that race. Bush likes the way Elke is coming into this race, but is concerned with the bevy of speed in the field.

"That's probably not helpful,'' Bush said. "This filly, she seems like you have to give her her head a little bit. She's not a filly you want to take a hold of.''

is another closer who ships in from Philadelphia Park. She has 4 wins and 3 seconds from 7 starts since being claimed by Ramon Preciado for $7,500 last September.