The Mary Slack owned Diamond Fields is one of 12 three-year-old fillies set to contest the G2 Lake George Stakes (run for a purse of $200 000) at Saratoga this Friday.

The Lake George (won previously by subsequent G1 winners Kitten’s Dumplings, Centre Court, Perfect Shirl and Winter Memories) is a 1700m contest on turf and is one of two graded stakes to be run at Saratoga’s opening day.

Leading contenders for Friday’s feature include unbeaten Kantharos filly Ancient Secret, G3 Miss Grillo Stakes winner Tin Type Gal (by Tapit), G3 Florida Oaks winner Baciami Piccola (Equiano), and Thundering Sky (Sky Mesa).

The regally bred Diamond Fields (she is by champion sire Fastnet Rock out of a daughter of Shamardal) has won just once but finished second last time out at Royal Ascot, when filling the runner up berth in the Listed Sandringham Handicap to unbeaten filly Persuasive (Dark Angel). Diamond Fields also finished second in the Listed Power Stakes and fourth in the G3 Balloygan Stakes previously

Trained by Tommy Stack (who won the Grand National on Red Rum and who sent out Las Meninas to win the 1000 Guineas), Diamond Fields will be ridden in Friday’s race by jockey Junior Alvarado.

Lake George S. (gr. IIT)

Saratoga Race Course, Friday, July 22, 2016, Race 9

·         1 1/16m

·         Turf

·         $200,000

·         3 yo Fillies

·         5:40 PM (local)