While May Day Ready is sure to attract plenty of attention at the windows off her victory in the Lake Placid Stakes (G2T), Opulent Restraint looks to be the one to beat in the cut back to one mile in the Sept. 20 $175,000 Winter Memories Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Chad Brown for Stephanie Seymour Brant, wife of White Birch Farm's Peter Brant, Opulent Restraint has placed twice in graded company in her last two starts. In both of those efforts, going 1 1/8 miles in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) and in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T), the Dubawi filly secured the lead turning for home but lacked the late punch to get across the finish line in front.
Drawing the rail under Manny Franco, it would appear the filly could get the jump on and establish an early advantage over May Day Ready, who breaks just to her outside and uncharacteristically went to the lead for the first time in her career in the Lake Placid.
Brown will also saddle the French import Griselda, an allowance winner at Saratoga Race Course last out in her North American debut.
The Lake Placid was just the performance the connections of May Day Ready were looking for after three disappointing efforts following her runner-up finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Under a shrewd ride from Frankie Dettori, the KatieRich Stables' runner put the field asleep in the Lake Placid, setting slow opening fractions en route to her half-length score over Play With Fire Aug. 9.
Dettori retains the mount for trainer Joseph Lee.
