Lion Lake runs down Life’s Dynamic in second division of G3 Glen Cove
Emcee Stable’s Lion Lake ran down the previously unbeaten Life’s Dynamic to capture the second division of Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Glen Cove, a seven-furlong Widener turf sprint for sophomore fillies, at Belmont Park.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, Lion Lake went off as the even-money favorite after a half-length second to Somerset West in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Music City on September 5 at Kentucky Downs. There, the Dark Angel gray was cutting back from five graded tries at one-mile or beyond and landed place honors by a head over Ground Support, who dominated the first division of the Glen Cove earlier today.
“I’m delighted with the filly,” Walsh said. “She ran super. She’s had some year. To win that and cap off the year is fantastic.”
Shortly after Lion Lake won by a neck at Belmont, the Walsh-trained juvenile colt Staunch was second by the same margin to Jas in the Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs.
“That’s racing – you’re up one minute, you’re down the next,” said Walsh, with a laugh.
Piloted by Manny Franco, Lion Lake exited post 5 and settled in last-of-10, well off the pacesetting Life’s Dynamic through the opening quarter-mile in 22.24 seconds over the firm turf.
The Mychel Sanchez-piloted Life’s Dynamic was pressed by Catalonia and Amicable Farce into the turn through the half-mile in 45 flat. Lion Lake picked off rivals from her off-the-pace position as she rounded the bend, traveling wide for the stretch run.
“She was a little further back than ideal when they turned for home, but she handled it well and got up when it mattered,” Walsh said.
Lion Lake ranged into contention down the center of the course as Life’s Dynamic responded on the front end after three-quarters in 1:08.41. Lion Lake dueled with Life’s Dynamic into the final sixteenth, putting her neck in front in the shadow of the wire to stop the clock in 1:20.58.
"Going from the half-mile to the quarter-pole, I felt like a winner,” Franco said. “I just stayed out of trouble and let my filly do the rest. A lot of credit to the one [Life's Dynamic], she was tough to go by and made it very difficult."
It was 1 1/4 lengths back from Life’s Dynamic to Hark Theangelssing in third. A trainer’s objection from Charlie Clover of fourth-place finisher Flowerhead was lodged against Hark Theangelssing, resulting in no change. Carolyncaroline, Pillar of Beauty, Green Sense, Catalonia, Epic Lady Luck and Amicable Farce completed the order of finish.
The outermost drawn R Slew of Cash unseated jockey Dylan Davis at the start, the filly was collared and provided a precautionary ride back in the equine ambulance, while the rider visited onsite EMS and was cleared to ride.
Lion Lake added blinkers for her last-out second in the Music City.
“We were shortening her up in distance and we didn’t need her to relax. I think her best distance is probably 6 1/2-to-seven [furlongs] and to get the mile, we’ve always had to try and get her to relax,” Walsh said. “She does have a tendency to lug in a little bit, and I think the blinkers kind of straighten her up a little bit as well. They help the rider as much as they do anything.”
Franco said he rode with confidence after watching Lion Lake’s prior efforts.
“I had run against her a lot at Saratoga, and I knew the filly a little bit. They put a blinker on for the first time last time at Kentucky Downs and she ran a good race,” said Franco. “I knew I was on a good filly going into the race, so I just tried to get the trip and stay out of trouble.”
Walsh said he will likely freshen Lion Lake up after a now 8-3-2-2 campaign.
Bred in Ireland by Camas Park, Lynch Bages and Summerhill, Lion Lake, a $162,366 purchase from Book 1 of the 2024 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, is out of the Cape Cross mare Urjuwaan and is a full-sister to dual Group 1-winner Alfareeq. She banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 11-3-3-3 and returning $4.04 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Wednesday with an eight-race card at Belmont Park. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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