Proctor's Ledge earns first stakes win in Lake George

Persistence finally paid off on Friday for Proctor's Ledge, Patricia Moseley's homebred daughter of Ghostzapper who registered her first stakes win against a competitive group of three-year-old fillies in the $150,000 Lake George (G3) on opening day of the 2017 Saratoga season.

Adding Lasix for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile grass test contested on firm ground, Proctor's Ledge rated in fifth much of the way under Javier Castellano as Chubby Star set a mild pace of :24.71, :49.66, and 1:13.18. Asked for more approaching the quarter pole, Proctor's Ledge swung wide for the drive, inherited the lead a furlong out and crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Party Boat, with Fifty Five 1 3/4 lengths behind in third.

"I loved the way she did it; she got a slow pace; good position and she finished good," Castellano said. "She was impressive. I never rode her before but she did amazing. She was in a comfortable rhythm. She was in a good spot and turning for home, she kicked really well."

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Proctor's Ledge returned $14.20 after completing the course in 1:41.47. The order of finish was rounded out by Chubby Star, Fizzy Friday, 3-1 favorite Defiant Honor, Dream Dancing, Victory to Victory, Super Marina, and Sweeping Paddy.

Third in the Appalachian (G3) in April and fourth in the Edgewood (G3) in May, both times to division stalwart La Coronel, Proctor's Ledge was favored in the June 17 Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs. However, the filly fell far off the pace and was 13 lengths off the lead at the quarter pole. She rallied for second, 3 1/2 lengths behind Sweeping Paddy, who had edged her narrowly for third in the Edgewood.

"It's huge for me," Walsh said. "Everything hadn't quite fallen into place the last few times, but she did it today, so I'll credit everybody. We finally got it right."

Seventh in her debut last November at Churchill, Proctor's Ledge won her next two starts at Gulfstream against maiden and allowance foes in the first two months of this season. Her career mark now stands at 7-3-1-1, $181,083.

Bred in Kentucky, Proctor's Ledge is out of Archstone, a stakes-placed daughter of Arch who has also reared the stakes-placed Mission Driven. Proctor's Ledge's third dam was Drumtop, who was one of the top grass performers of the early 1970s when she beat the boys in the Canadian International, Hialeah Turf Cup, Bowling Green H., and Edgemere H. twice, among other stakes. Proctor's Ledge's fourth dam, Zonah, was a half-sister to Hall of Fame filly Gamely.