Lake George Fave Is a 'Secret'

Ancient Secret | Adam Coglianese photo

Dominant though he has been in grass events on the New York circuit, it was only last year that trainer Chad Brown won his first GII Lake George S., saddling Saturday's GI Diana S. hopeful Mrs McDougal (Medaglia d'Oro) to a narrow victory. The Mechanicville, New York, native will have two solid chances to put them back-to-back in the form of Alpha Delta Stables' Ancient Secret (Kantharos) and the promising European import Elysea's World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}).

A New York-bred by a very successful Florida-based stallion, Ancient Secret made her first two appearances against restricted competition and made light work of a pair of turf sprints downstate on debut last October and again on her May 14 return to action. Stretched to the mile against open rivals for the first time in the June 19 Wild Applause S., the chestnut tracked comfortably into the race and conjured up a stinging final-furlong rally to best the re-opposing Thundering Sky (Sky Mesa) by a head. Ancient Secret will look to make it four-for-four in the Lake George.

Elysea's World annexed her lone appearance at two at Chantilly last June, then shaped like any kind with a flying finish to snag a first-level Belmont allowanc e May 11. Given her chance in the June 5 Wonder Again S., the local prep for the GI Belmont Oaks, the bay sat a good trip and matched strides with the eventual winner Time and Motion (Tapit) in upper stretch, but was one-paced late in sixth. She and Ancient Secret shared the four-furlong turf bullet (:48.01) at Belmont July 17.

Diamond Fields (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is relatively exposed, with eight runs to date, but her European form should stand her in good stead in this field. The bay has made half of her appearances against the boys, including a runner-up effort to the talented and recent G1SP Washington D C (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the Listed Power S. at Navan in May, then was fourth against older females in the G3 Ballyogan S. at The Curragh in early June. Her most recent runner-up effort in the prestigious Sandringham H. at Royal Ascot June 15 was full of merit. Towards the back early, she weaved her way through traffic to reach contention, only to find herself short of room at a critical stage. She streaked home once clear to miss by 1 1/4 lengths to Cheveley Park's undefeated Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and can play upsetter here.

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