Excellent second for Lake Avenue in G1 Ballerina Handicap

Lake Avenue produced a career-best effort as she chased home Champion sprinter Gamine in the G1 Ballerina Handicap over seven furlongs at Saratoga, USA, on Saturday, 28 August.

The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old, who was beaten a neck by Bell’s The One at the same course in the G2 Honorable Miss Handicap at the end of July, soon raced in third on the inner rail as Gamine led the seven-strong field.

Lake Avenue continued to save ground down the inside and stayed on resolutely under Junior Alvarado to take second from the fading Estilo Talentoso at the top of the straight.

The Godolphin homebred rallied in the closing stages to go down by a length and three-quarters to Gamine, who was posting a fifth G1 success.

Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell said: “Lake Avenue chased home probably the best sprinting filly in the country and galloped out very strongly. She has been beaten by two very good sprinters in her last two starts and has shown that she wants to be a part of this division.

“It was another excellent effort and about as good as you could hope for without getting your picture taken.”