D. Wayne Lukas
… can’t get the New York stewards to explain their decisions to him either:
Stealin’ Kisses was checked after clipping heels in deep stretch when My Princess Jess forced her way between the pacesetter on the inside and Alwajeeha on the outside to win the Lake George as the 2-1 second favorite (good value for her backers, especially since the filly has never been worse than second in seven starts.) All the action (including mine) was on the French filly making her North American debut, Mousse Au Chocolat, 9-5 at post-time and a disaster from start to finish. She reared up in the gate before staggering out, spotting the field more than four lengths, attempted to move into contention going four-wide around the final turn, then began backing up even before she stumbled after clipping heels with Receipt when that one drifted into her path. It was an ugly scene; the second of stewards’ inquiries into the race, no change was made.
In other Spa news: I guess Mr. Winning Trifecta was right about watching out for Chad Brown. The former Bobby Frankel assistant is 2-for-3 after winning the fourth on Friday with firster Midtown Bullet at 4-1 … Todd Pletcher made it to the winner’s circle after the second with Join in the Dance, a 2-year-old who brought back memories of Corinthian, the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and a notorious headcase as a youngster. The colt dumped rider John Velazquez in the post parade, was rank in the stretch, and still won gate-to-wire in 1:04.29 … Back later with more on Breeders’ Cup Challenge day, I have to get to the track for morning happenings …
