Centre Court prevails in Lake George

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred Centre Court overcame a rough trip to post a

narrow victory in Wednesday's Grade 2, $200,000

Lake

George Stakes at Saratoga, surging late among a tight pack to score by a

neck in the 1 1/16-mile turf affair. Grade 1 winner Stephanie's Kitten, the 2-1

favorite, was not so fortunate, finishing less than a length back in fourth

after being stopped and forced to alter course in deep stretch.

Trained by Rusty Arnold, the improving Centre Court has now captured three

straight, breaking her maiden by 4 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs May 19 before

registering a one-length win in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes under the Twin Spires

June 16, and her only unplaced career effort came on dirt. The dark bay daughter

of Smart Strike increased her earnings to $239,467 from a 6-3-2-0 mark.

After breaking well beneath Julien Leparoux, Centre Court dropped back in

order to save ground into the first turn, but she bumped hard with rival Dancing

Solo before settling into a good trip along the inside. Elusive Rumour came out

winging it from the start, establishing splits in :23 2/5 and :47 with Medolina

chasing in second, and it was a large gap back to third after the opening

half-mile. The rest of the field started gaining on the top two entering the far

turn, and less than five lengths separated all eight runners after

three-quarters of a mile in 1:11 3/5.

Centre Court came off the rail turning for home and rallied through tight

quarters to challenge in deep stretch. Stephanie's Kitten, who was last turning

for home, tried to accelerate into contention at the same point, but there was

nowhere to go in traffic and she repeatedly bumped Centre Court while trying to

force her way out. Centre Court held her position and jockey John Velazquez was

forced to take a tight hold on Stephanie's Kitten, desperately guiding his mount

to the rail for clear sailing before running out of room on the wire.

Centre Court stopped the teletimer in 1:41 3/5 over the firm Mellon turf.

"It got a little rough in the stretch, but she got through," Arnold said.

"She's smart, she's brave, she always fights her way through."

"She's a pretty tough filly," said Leparoux, who captured three races

Wednesday. "She's small, but pretty tough. It was a rough race. There was a

little bit of bumping. She stayed there and still finished up to win the race.

She won last time at Churchill very good. So, I was expecting her to run the

same race. It was a tough race and I'm glad she won."

The winner paid $7.50, $3.80 and $2.80 as the 5-2 second choice. Better

Lucky, overlooked at 15-1 off her upset win in the Grade 2 Sand's Point, offered

a big move into contention on the far turn and battled gamely to the wire before

settling for second, a neck better than the 5-2 Samitar in third. Stephanie's

Kitten, who was another neck back in fourth, was followed under the wire by

Medolina, Somali Lemonade, Dancing Solo and Elusive Rumour. Harbor Mist was

withdrawn.

"I think we were the best horse," trainer Wayne Catalano said of Stephanie's

Kitten trip. "Johnny (Velazquez) said we had the best horse."

Centre Court is out of the Grade 2-winning A.P. Indy mare Let, who placed in

the 1998 Grade 1 Ashland Stakes before going on in the breeding shed to produce

Grade 3 victor Ravel. Let is a half-sister to Eagle Cafe, winner of the 2002

Japan Cup Dirt, as well as the dam of dual stakes victress Marianne Rose.

Centre Court's third dam is the Grade 3-winning Damascus mare Doubles

Partner, who is a daughter of French Group 3 victress Fabuleux Jane. Other foals

of Fabuleux Jane, who was third in the 1977 runnings of the Group 1 Prix de

Diane and Group 1 Prix Vermeille, include Grade 1-winning stallion Joyeux

Danseur and listed-scoring sire Fabuleux Dancer.

Fabuleux Jane is a half-sibling to English and French champion sprinter Ajdal;

Grade 1 queen Flying Partner, who ran third in the 1982 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks;

and English Group 1 diva Formidable. However, the mare is probably best known

for being the granddam of champion stallion Arazi and English highweight sire

Noverre.

Arnold said the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga August 19 could be next for

Centre Court, whose ultimate goal this fall is the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II

Challenge Cup at Keeneland.