Shared Account looks tough

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After watching Shared Account win her first two starts on the dirt, trainer Graham Motion thought he had a filly that could take him to the Kentucky Oaks. Considering what Rachel Alexandra has done in the 3-year-old filly division this year, it may be a blessing in disguise that Shared Account's true calling is the turf.

Friday, Shared Account looks poised to record her first stakes victory when she heads a field of eight entered to run in the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga.

Shared Account was a hard-luck loser to Blind Date in the at Colonial Downs in her last start. Shared Account had the lead in deep stretch and simply lost a bob of the head to Blind Date. But Motion liked what he saw from the filly, especially for her first time going 1 1/8 miles, the same distance as the Lake Placid.

"At a mile and an eighth, we saw a different horse last time," Motion said. "Probably a little unlucky not to get there. The other filly came back at her on the wire."

Prior to the Virginia Oaks, Shared Account finished a troubled third to the talented Dame Ellen in at Belmont Park. "It was a little short for her," Motion said.

Though there does not appear to be much early speed in the Lake Placid, Motion doesn't think that will hinder his filly.

"She is a very uncomplicated filly; she doesn't need to be taken back," Motion said.

The connections of Consequence hope the Lake Placid stays on the turf, unlike , which was rained off to the main track. In that race, Consequence finished last of four, while Mary's Follies was second. Mary's Follies was entered in the Lake Placid but was scratched on Friday.

Consequence will enter the Lake Placid with only one nondescript race in three months, but trainer Shug McGaughey is not bothered by that as much as the distance.

"She's a little thing, she doesn't need much training," he said. "I hope [1 1/8 miles] is not stretching her."

Keertana, who won the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill, is the only member of this field to have won at 1 1/8 miles.