7th-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 7-19, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.33, ft.
LUCIFERS LAIR (f, 2, Quality Road–Devil's Cave {GSW & GISP, $379,430}, by Put It Back), co-favored at 5-2 for this unveiling for the always dangerous Todd Pletcher barn, proved well meant and professional to score comfortably at first asking Sunday. Out-footed by only longshot Stone Town (Tapizar) early, the Maryland-bred sat perched off of that foe's right flank through an opening quarter of :22.37 and began to wear the pacesetter down after a :45.97 half. She seized command in the vicinity of the eighth pole, and bounded away from there to win by a comfortable three-length margin. Stone Town held on for second over Peachy Queen (Runhappy), who was competing for the $100,000 Runhappy Bonus. The winner's dam annexed the GII Sabin S. going two turns at Gulfstream in 2014, and was third in the GI La Troienne S. two starts later. Devil's Cave was purchased by Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group at the 2015 Keeneland November sale carrying a full-brother to the winner. Devil's Cave's unraced 3-year-old half-sister Steal the Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) was acquired for just $5,000 at Keeneland January this year by Canadian trainer Nick Nosowenko. She has recorded nine published works at Woodbine, most recently breezing in :50.60 (72/90) from the gate Sunday morning. Devil's Cave has a yearling filly by Tonalist and was bred to Quality Road's son Klimt for 2021. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-The Elkstone Group, LLC (Stuart Grant); B-The Elkstone Group LLC (MD); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
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