How to bet the 2022 Lake Placid Stakes

A total of six three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga inner turf in Saturday’s $200,000 Lake Placid S. (G2). Half of the field will be saddled by top gun Chad Brown, and as tempted as I am to go against the leading conditioner, I think that he will get one of his entrants home first in the affair.

Grade 2 heroine #4 Consumer Spending (7-2) broke her maiden on the surface last campaign and will make her initial appearance at the venue since. By More Than Ready, the sophomore lass has run quite well in each of her three 2022 races to date, with a victory in the Memories of Silver S. followed by a score in the Wonder Again S. (G2) in her first pair of outings at three.

In her latest venture, the gray made a late run to be a solid third in the Belmont Oaks Invitational S. (G1) at 1 1/4 miles, and I believe that she will thrive on the cutback in distance on this occasion. The Kentucky-bred has a fine turn of foot in a field with some pace signed on, and she figures to be saving ground to the top of the lane before putting her best foot forward under Manny Franco. And if there is some give in the ground, then the miss moves up substantially, too.

#5 Dolce Zel (6-1) overcame traffic to get up in time in the Lake George S. (G3) on the oval for Brown, and the Zelzal sophomore rates a big chance with clear sailing in this endeavor once again. The French import has improved her Brisnet Speed figure with each start since arriving in the U.S., and if that trend continues, then the bay will be a menacing foe at the top of the stretch. She possesses good tactical speed and figures to sit an advantageous trip under the guidance of regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

I can’t find a lot of separation with the remaining contenders in the field, including morning-line choice #1 With the Moonlight (9-5), who is a bet against on top for me on the cutback in distance. The "all" button will be used underneath.

Lake Placid Wagers

• $30 win: #4 Consumer Spending ($30)
• $2 trifecta: 4 with 5 with all ($8)
• $2 trifecta: 4 with all with 5 ($8)