From the Spa: August 12 Midlantic-breds in Saratoga stakes

I Spent It wins the 2014 Saratoga Special. Photo by NYRA/Adam Coglianese.

by Joseph Aiello 

“From the Spa” returns to keep you up-to-date on horses bred in the mid-Atlantic racing in Saratoga stakes   

The Grade II Adirondack Stakes is featured as the ninth race on Wednesday, August 12th at the Spa. The Adirondack is a six and one half furlong dirt sprint exclusively for two year old fillies, with an evenly-matched six horse field in this year’s version that includes one of the top jockey-trainer combinations in Irad Ortiz Jr. and Todd Pletcher. This duo enters the race having won at a sixty percent clip together for the meet, and will look to continue that trend with our Midlantic entry of interest, Lucifers Lair.

Bred in Maryland by The Elkstone Group LLC, who is also the owner, Lucifers Lair enters the Adirondack with high expectations, not only because of her top flight connections, but also due to her impressive victory first time out. In that try, she broke second and took over before the top of the stretch, pulling away from the pack to win by three lengths. With the victory, Lucifers Lair became the only Adirondack entry to have won at Saratoga, a distinction which may give her a leg up on the field. Even at short morning line odds of 3/1, this bay filly by Quality Road – Devil’s Cave, by Put It Back, may not end up as the post-time favorite, but will certainly have plenty of advantages with her connections and past performances, and should get every opportunity for a second visit to the Saratoga winner’s circle.