How to bet the 2023 Lake George Stakes

A fine field of 10 sophomore fillies will contest Friday’s $175,000 Lake George S. (G3), if the weather cooperates at Saratoga. Rain is in the forecast, so keep an eye on changing conditions. 

Scheduled for the inner turf, the one-mile test features a handful of runners from the mighty Chad Brown shedrow, which has saddled six of the last eight winners of the affair, including four straight. I think he will make it five on Friday.

#3 Tax Implications (5-1) has improved with each career try while finishing first or second in every one of her trio of performances to date. The chestnut daughter of Mehmas aired on debut over the Monmouth lawn as a juvenile and concluded her brief two-year-old season with a rallying second in the Chelsea Flower S. at Aqueduct. In her sophomore unveiling, the $356,000 yearling purchase rallied to lead late before ultimately finishing a clear second in the Wild Applause S. at Belmont Park, and I envision her improving in her second assignment of the campaign. Manny Franco will once again guide the Klaravich color bearer.

Soaring Softly S. (G3) vixen #1 Queen Picasso (6-1) is 2-for-2 in her career and is an obvious win threat from the rail post. By Kingman, the talented three-year-old followed up a nice debut score with a facile tally at Belmont in her latest endeavor, and she surely has room to improve while making just her third lifetime appearance on Friday. The bay filly has positional speed and figures to be within striking range throughout from the fence with regular rider Jose Ortiz riding once again.

Brown’s #5 Revalita (5-1) has put forth a trio of very good efforts since coming to the U. S. and seems poised to be a late player in the race as a prime exotics contender at the very least. This Recoletes filly was a sharp second in the Edgewood S. (G2) two back, which preceded a solid third-place finish in the Wonder Again S. (G2) at Belmont Park in her latest venture. The bay shows four promising morning drills in preparation for this heat and will have Tyler Gaffalione in the silks and rallying her from off of the early tempo.

Smashing maiden winner #7 Utilization Rate (9-2) was visually impressive in her five-length Belmont victory most recently and can’t be ignored with Irad Ortiz Jr. retaining the ride. She is a most logical exotics piece for top connections. 

Lake George Wagers

• $25 win: #3 Tax Implications ($25)
• 50-cent superfecta: 3 with 1,5,7 with 1,5,7 with all ($21)