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2006 Lake Placid Stakes Results

Garrett Gomez and Wait a While after winning the Lake Placid Stakes

The feature race on Friday at Saratoga was the $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf course. Only five went to the gate in this edition, with American Oaks winner Wait a While sent off as the even-money favorite over 11-10 second choice Lady of Venice, winner of the Regret Stakes and fifth in the Diana Handicap.

First time by with Art Show out front and Wait a While right behind

22-1 outsider Art Show set the pace taking a ground-saving path through easy fractions of 24.50, 48.99, and 1:12.35 while being stalked by Wait a While the whole way around the course. At the top of the stretch, jockey Garrett Gomez asked Wait a While for her run and got it, as the favorite powered away to a 5 1/2 length lead after a mile in 1:35.04. Lady of Venice, who had raced up close but at the back of the pack early, made a late rally through the stretch but was left with too much to do, as Wait a While won easily by 4 3/4 lengths at the line, in a time of 1:46.59 over the firm going. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 7-1 third choice Dancing Band in third.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 3 Wait a While Gomez 4.10 2.30 2.10 2 Lady of Venice Leparoux 2.30 2.10 1 Dancing Band Velazquez 2.80 Winning Time: 1:46.59 $2 Exacta 3-2 6.10 $2 Trifecta 3-2-1 9.80

Results Chart from DRF.

Wait a While returns after the race. Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "This is a beautiful filly. I can put her anywhere I want. I could have taken the lead any time I wanted to, but I got her to the outside and sat in the garden spot and just waited. When I asked her, she just exploded for me. It is always a pleasure to ride horses like these."

Wait a While acts up a bit in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Todd Pletcher (in the gray suit) said "It was a dominant performance. You don't see horses in turf races dominate as often as she has. She is one of those special fillies that can do a little bit of everything. She won the American Oaks at a mile and a quarter. She won here at a mile and an eighth. She's actually competitive on dirt, but this is her true calling: on the turf."

The trophy presentation for the Lake Placid Stakes included a print showing Lake Placid. Todd Pletcher said on Saturday morning that she came out of the race fine and looked as good as she did winning the race.

Second place finisher Lady of Venice runs out after the race. Her trainer Patrick Biancone said, "There was no excuse today. She was in a perfect spot behind the horse to beat. We were beaten by the better horse today."

Third place finisher Dancing Band in the post parade. She was also trained by Todd Pletcher.

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