Lake George

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Only six sophomore fillies were entered for the turf in Friday's $150,000

Lake George S. (G2), and the inner course at Saratoga will have some give to it

due to all the recent rain in the area. The connections of MOUSSE AU CHOCOLAT

(Hennessy) are probably excited about that prospect.

Runner-up in the Prix de Sandringham S. (Fr-G2) over a soft course at

Chantilly in her last outing, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained lass will bring

good form into her U.S. debut. Two starts back in her first appearance at three,

Mousse au Chocolat finished only three lengths behind the unbeaten French

sensation Zarkava (Zamindar) in the Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3) at Longchamp. The

Kentucky-bred wrapped up her two-year-old season with an excellent three-length

score in the Grand Criterium du Languedoc, and she's proven to be a very

honest sort, finishing either first or second in six-of-seven lifetime starts.

We'll give the dark bay lass the edge here.

MY PRINCESS JESS (Stormy Atlantic) looked like an astute purchase for Lael

Stables when capturing the Boiling Springs S. (G3) in her first start for new

connections, and the Florida-bred filly will bring a two-race winning skein into

the Lake George. She followed the Boiling Springs with a sharp bullet work at

Belmont, breezing five panels in 1:00 on July 15, and trainer Barclay Tagg wins

at a higher clip in graded stakes (22 percent strike rate) than overall (17

percent). My Princess Jess should be able to save ground from her rail post

under Eibar Coa, and we'll look for another solid showing from off the pace.

ZEE ZEE (Exchange Rate) has raced on the front end in her last two outings,

including a respectable third to Pure Clan (Pure Prize) in the Regret S. (G3)

last out, and the gray filly ran well twice over the turf at Saratoga last year,

breaking her maiden before recording a runner-up finish versus males in the With

Anticipation S., which was captured by eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

winner Nownownow (Whywhywhy). Zee Zee will probably concede the early advantage

in this spot, but she'll be up close under Kent Desormeaux, who will be waiting

for the right moment to strike.

ALWAJEEHA (Dixieland Band) probably doesn't need firm ground to fire, but we

would've liked to have seen more from her last time in the Sands Point S. (G2)

over a "good" course at Belmont. She's eligible to improve off that fourth-place

effort for Kiaran McLaughlin, and the bay miss figures to sit a good stalking

trip under John Velazquez. Alwajeeha is a logical top three candidate.

STEALIN' KISSES (Sky Mesa) has improved since switching to the turf two

starts back for D. Wayne Lukas, but the speedy miss probably won't get the soft

pace that her connections would love to see. She'll also be tested for class

after squaring off against entry-level allowance foes in her last five starts.

We love Julien Leparoux on the weeds, but we can't envision the dark bay "stealin"

this one.

RECEIPT (Dynaformer) recorded a nice maiden win over the weeds at Belmont two

starts back, but she jumps to stakes company for Shug McGaughey off a

fourth-place effort versus entry-level allowance rivals. We'll give her a start

at this level.

FOREST TRAIL (Forest Wildcat) is entered for the main-track only, and the

McGaughey runner finished a solid second in the off-the-turf Little Silver S.

two starts back.