Ancient Secret looks to remain unbeaten in Lake George

As can be expected multiple times throughout the 40-day Saratoga meet that begins Friday, trainer Chad Brown holds a solid hand entering the $200,000 Lake George (G2), a 1 1/16-mile test on the Mellon Turf for three-year-old fillies that highlights the 10-race opening day card.

Ancient Secret enters the Lake George undefeated from three starts. After handily beating New York-bred company in her first two outings, the daughter of Kantharos stepped up to face open company in the $100,000 Wild Applause at Belmont and was along in time to edge Thundering Sky by a head.

Also starting for Brown is Elysea's World, who started her career two-for-two with wins at Chantilly and Belmont, but was a dull sixth in the $200,000 Wonder Again to Time and Motion, subsequently second in the Belmont Oaks (G1). The pair worked together at Belmont on Sunday, recording co-bullet works of :48 for a half-mile on the Widener turf.

Tin Type Gal, who landed last fall's Miss Grillo (G3) by a nose, figures to improve off her performance in the Wild Applause. Making her first start in nearly nine months, the Graham Motion charge made a modest rally to finish fifth, two lengths behind Ancient Secret.

Also among the field of 12 are the Mike Maker-trained Try Your Luck, an impressive maiden and allowance winner in Kentucky this spring before a third-place try in the Regret (G3) over a speed-favoring Churchill Downs turf, and Florida Oaks (G3) scorer Baciami Piccola, who adds Lasix after running out of the money in the Appalachian (G3) and Wild Applause.

Invading from Europe for Tommy Stack is Diamond Fields, second to the subsequent Group 1-placed Washington DC in May and runner-up in the Sandringham H. at Royal Ascot last month.

The $150,000 Schuylerville (G3) for two-year-old fillies, an early six-furlong prep for the Spinaway (G1) later in the meet, attracted a field of nine. Made Me Shiver might go favored off a sharp maiden score at Churchill for Steve Asmussen, though Belmont graduates Olive Branch and Platinum Spark also merit a look.

Todd Pletcher sends out Sweet Loretta, who won at first asking by seven lengths at Monmouth, while the Wesley Ward-trained Lightning Dove looks to rebound from a fifth in the $197,000 Astoria after a rough trip.

(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)