Speaktomeofsummer Holds on Gamely in Lake Placid

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Waterford Stable’s Speaktomeofsummer split foes in mid-stretch and held on gamely to win Sunday’s $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.

Breaking from the rail under Joel Rosario at 9/2 odds, Speaktomeofsummer got pinched back slightly and saved ground heading into the clubhouse turn. Up front, Blame Debbie raced inside of Lashara through opening fractions of :24.01, :49.03, and 1:13.66.

Continuing to race along the inside through the far turn, Speaktomeofsummer tipped out at the top of the stretch and split between Blame Debbie and Stunning Sky. The Christophe Clement trainee took command inside the 1/16 pole and held a head advantage through to the wire.

Speaktomeofsummer completed the 1 1/8-mile firm inner turf route in a final time of 1:49.44.

“I was really happy with the trip,” Rosario said. “I thought I would be a little closer, like Christophe told me, but everybody had the same idea to be up there. It looked like the first part was fast, but they all got into their position, so I thought I’d let her be happy there and hopefully have a good run at the end. She was moving beautifully, but when I passed the leader, she waited a little bit and the other horse came back again, but she came on again and I was able to hold them off.”

Stunning Sky’s game effort saw her finish 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Queens Embrace, who rallied from last to neck out Key Biscayne for third.

The 2/1 favorite Cat’s Pajamas was fifth ahead of Blame Debbie, Lashara, and Mirabell Mei to complete the order of finish.

Speaktomeofsummer’s win was a return to form after finishing fourth in the Wonder Again Stakes (G3) last time out in her 2020 debut. The 3-year-old Summer Front filly improved her overall record to 5-3-0-0 with $175,500 earned.

“She had a great trip,” said Clement, who also teamed up with Rosario to win Saturday’s Hall of Fame Stakes (G2). “Thank you, Joel. He’s riding great at the moment. The filly has trained well since the last race at Belmont. She’s by Summer Front, which is a big deal for us, as we trained him, plus he’s a young sire at the moment.”

Speaktomeofsummer returned $11.60 to win, $6.30 to place, and $4.60 to show. Stunning Sky brought back $6.10 to place and $4.20 to show, while Queens Embrace paid $6.20 to show.