Proctor's Ledge repeats victory in G2 Lake Placid

by Anthony Affrunti

A late-running charge from Proctor's Ledge was enough to sweep the "lake" themed graded races for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course and withstand a challenge from Uni to win the 34th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Lake Placid by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:47.74 for 1 1/8 miles on the Mellon turf course.

The Ghostzapper filly, off her 1 ¾-length victory in the Grade 3 Lake George, sat a patient fourth in the field of five that was downsized with the early scratch of Berned, one of two entered for trainer Graham Motion. The victory by Proctor's Ledge gives her trainer Brendan Walsh a few options as to where to point next.

"She's something else," Walsh said. "To beat fillies like that so impressively, she's been threatening all the time to do this and getting better and better. It's just fantastic and great for everybody involved: super owners, my guys working with her. It's just brilliant.

"I don't know about the Breeders' Cup, but you have to think about a race like the [Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on October 14] next for her."

From the gate, pacesetter Coasted cut the corner into the first turn after leaving her rail post, and led the way through fractions of 24.39 and 50.03 for the half-mile. Party Boat stalked from close range while La Coronel, making her first start since her fifth-place finish in the Group 1 Coronation at Royal Ascot in England, followed along in mid-pack. Proctor's Ledge followed ahead of Uni who trailed, as three quarters of a mile was run in 1:14.11.

At the quarter-pole, Proctor's Ledge was angled out five-wide, and launched a bid while Uni made her run from behind and was angled out six-wide. Coasted, now with her foes to her outside, began to tire while Party Boat and La Coronel were outkicked in the stretch. After a mile run in 1:36.54 that proved a quickening pace, Proctor's Ledge took command a furlong from the wire, while Uni came hard to her outside. It looked as if it could be tight on the wire, but jockey Javier Castellano held the advantage under a drive over Uni, who settled for second by 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Party Boat in third. La Coronel and Coasted completed the order of finish.

"It's always good to win graded races, especially at Saratoga," Castellano said. "I like the way she did it. It was a slow pace. She's a come-from-behind horse. The way she did it was very impressive. She was nice, easy and relaxed.

"You could tell the pace was comfortable. She was laid back. I liked the way she finished. I love the way she runs. No matter where you put her, she'll always show up."

Uni, bet as the 8-5 favorite, was making her second U.S. start since her debut on June 8 when third in the Belmont Oaks Invitational. The filly by More Than Ready could have fared better had the pace been quicker, according to her trainer Chad Brown.

"I thought she ran great," Brown said. "The winner was very impressive. Uni had some things against her with the pace from the back of the pack, and finished very strong. I didn't see the Trakus yet, but the final quarter must've been very impressive for the winner and Uni. A different pace setup might have helped her."

Proctor's Ledge was sent off as at 2-1, and returned $6.40 to win.