LAKE GEORGE, SCHUYLERVILLE TOP OPENER,

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If the first turf stakes of the 2017 Saratoga session, Friday’s $150,000 Lake George, is any indication of what handicappers have to look forward to during the remainder of the meeting, it’s going to be a very challenging summer at the Spa.

The Grade 3 Lake George lured as wide open a field of 3-year-old filly grass specialists as one could imagine, including four graded stakes winners and several others knocking on the door in that department.

From a handicapping standpoint, it’s probably wise to start with whatever horse trainer Chad Brown has entered in any turf stakes here this summer. In the case of the 1 1/16-mile Lake George, that would be Fifty Five, the last-to-first winner of the Grade 3 Florida Oaks earlier this year at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Tom Bush. In her last start – and first for Brown – Fifty Five was second behind her stablemate New Money Honey in the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont Park.

“It’s a wide-open field, that’s for sure,” Brown said. “There are a handful of horses who could win, and she’s one of them. Her last race was good. There wasn’t a lot of pace, and she just couldn’t make up any ground late on the winner, who is a really nice horse.”

Sweeping Paddy comes off far and away her best effort yet, a 3 1/2-length triumph in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs on June 17. Trainer Dale Romans has been high on Sweeping Paddy since she won a maiden race by 12 1/4 lengths at Kentucky Downs last September.

“We skipped the Belmont Oaks with her because we thought it was too quick back,” Romans said. “I thought last year, off that big race at Kentucky Downs, she was going to be the second coming, but she plateaued a little on us. This year, she’s gotten better and better.”

Dream Dancing is one of two fillies trainer Mark Casse will send out in the Lake George along with Victory to Victory. Dream Dancing is winless in three starts since capturing the Grade 3 Here comes the bride at Gulfstream Park in March. She finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Fifty Five, in the Wonder Again.

Victory to Victory captured the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine in her 2-year-old finale, but has finished off the board in her last two starts, both stakes tries on turf.

Party Boat continues to improve while exiting a secondplace finish in the Penn Oaks and matching the career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 89 she earned by winning the Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct six weeks earlier.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fifty Five, by Get Stormy Last 3 Beyers: 84-81-83

◗ Brown said he’s happy with her draw on the rail.

“She’s got a real good post,” he said. “There’s some speed in the race, so hopefully she’ll be able to work out a good trip.”

Sweeping Paddy, by Paddy O’Prado Last 3 Beyers: 91-83-78

◗ She figures to be racing forwardly from the outset.

“If there’s no pace, she’ll be laying close,” Romans said. “There was a run-off in the race last time, and it made it look like she was further back than she usually is.”