Weaver expecting good effort from Daddy Is a Legend in Lake George

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The complexion of Friday’s $150,000 Lake George Stakes obviously changed immensely with the news earlier this week that the once-beaten Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Rushing Fall would not make the race. That turn of events opened the door a bit wider for the seven 3-year-old fillies who were entered for the Grade 3 turf fixture, which shares top billing on opening day at Saratoga with the Grade 3 Schuylerville.

Grade 3 winner Daddy Is a Legend could prove the major beneficiary of Rushing Fall’s absence in the 1 1/16-mile Lake George. Although winless on the year, Daddy Is a Legend turned in a series of strong efforts during the first half of her 3-year-old campaign including a fourth in the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont Park on June 7.

George Weaver, who trains Daddy Is a Legend, said the absence of a talented filly such as Rushing Fall was “a good thing” for his entrant.

“I think my filly probably ran the best race of her life last time,” said Weaver. “At least she did from a figure standpoint. She was parked out there and it was a slow-paced race, which made her kick less effective, yet she was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths by a very good bunch. I respect all the other fillies in the Lake George, but I wouldn’t change places with anybody. On paper, I think I’ve got the strongest hand going in. I just hope she gets a good trip and we can start the meet off right.”

Although he won’t have Rushing Fall in the starting gate, trainer Chad Brown will be well represented in the Lake George with Punked and Altea.

Punked has won once in three starts since joining Brown’s barn earlier this year and was second behind Got Stormy in the Wild Applause on June 23 at Belmont. Altea is winless in three U.S. appearances but earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90 when finishing fifth, less than a length behind Daddy Is a Legend, in the Wonder Again.

Altea will race with blinkers for the first time on Friday.

Heavenly Love, winner of the Grade 1 Alcibides on dirt at Keeneland at 2, seems to have found a new home on grass. She finished sixth behind Rushing Fall after encountering early trouble in the Grade 2 Appalachian and was an improved third when rallying from last following another unlucky beginning in the Grade 3 Regret last month at Churchill Downs.

“Our filly ran a big race last time at Churchill,” said trainer Mark Casse. “She was down on the inside. Our plans were to have her closer and she got bothered at the start. Next thing you know she’s 15 lengths out of it. With a little better start and with a little more forward position, she’ll run well.”

Andina Del Sur, 13-1 winner of the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs in March, finished behind both Daddy Is a Legend and Altea in the Wonder Again. She’ll carry high weight of 124 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Lake George.

Goodthingstaketime has been stakes-placed in all three starts at 3. She was beaten just a head by Andina Del Sur making her 2018 debut in the Florida Oaks, was a late-running third in the Appalachian and most recently finished third again in the Penn Oaks, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Got Stormy.

Going Out defeated older horses returning to the grass five weeks ago at Monmouth Park while getting Lasix and adding blinkers for the first time that day. She could find herself as the controlling speed in a relatively paceless field for the Lake George.

– additional reporting by David Grening