Sentiero Italia Closes for Lake Placid Score

In the absence of undefeated Lady Eli, Sentiero Italia announced her presence in the 3-year-old filly turf division with a victory in the $300,000 Maker's Mark Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT) Aug. 14 at Saratoga Race Course.



After racing in fourth through most of the 1 1/8-mile race, the Godolphin-owned Medaglia d'Oro   filly stormed past Miss Temple City in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4 lengths.



Miss Temple City appeared to put away the short field at the top of the stretch, when the Temple City   filly held a length advantage, but could not hold off the late run by the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Sentiero Italia. Strict Compliance came in third, 3 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up.



Squeezed at the start from post 2, Heath moved to the rail and pushed forward to set fractions of :25.10, :49.25, and 1:12.54 through six furlongs. Consumer Credit sat just off the pace, while Sentiero Italia ran fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind the leaders early on.



"I thought I was going to be a little closer, but I ended up farther back (and) she was happy where she was," winning jockey Joel Rosario said. "When I was turning for home, she has a good turn of foot and she just kept on going after that."



With her late surge, favored Sentiero Italia hit the wire in 1:49.25 over a turf course rated firm to collect her first graded victory.



"You never know with a short field, but Joel rode her great," McLaughlin said. "He saved a little ground the first turn and waited. We were angling out and I knew that we were going to finish strong. I had a lot of confidence in her. She was doing great. She's a very talented filly and has a big kick, so it worked out very well today."



Heath and Consumer Credit tired to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.



The winner paid $5.30, $3.10, and $2.40 across the board. Miss Temple City brought $4.20 and $2.70, while Strict Compliance delivered $2.20 to show.



All five entrants in the Lake Placid have been beaten in the past by Lady Eli, but while she continues to battle laminitis, Sentiero Italia may have emerged as a top runner in the 3-year-old filly turf division.

JOHNSON: Lady Eli Making 'Remarkable Progress'



Bred in Kentucky by Darley, out of the Cadeaux Genereux mare Golden Way, Sentiero Italia, ran a dead-heat fourth, 3 1/2-lengths behind Lady Eli in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (gr. IT) July 4. That was her graded stakes debut, following back-to-back maiden and allowance wins.



"She had a rough trip last time and ran into Lady Eli, who's the best of this group by quite a ways," McLaughlin said. "We were the only one that ran farther than her that day. We were in the way outside post. Today worked out great. We'll go forward from here ... but this is a big win and we'll soak this up for a little while before we find the next spot."