With a pair of exciting juvenile stakes, including a blanket finish win that allowed Backtalk to remain undefeated in yesterdays’ Sanford, in the books, the action switches to the grass, weather permitting, today in the $150,000 G2 Lake George for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/6 miles over the inner turf course.

Since breaking her maiden at first asking over this course last year, Consequence went winless in four straight tries over turf, dirt and synthetic surfaces. Last out though, with trainer Shug McGaughey adding blinkers for the first time, Consequence appeared to have put it all together with a ½ length score in the American 1000 Guineas at Arlington. Much closer to the pace than she had ever been, Consequence struck the lead in mid-stretch and gutted out a game victory, one that may help her shed her reputation of being a hanger. Regular rider John Velazquez rides from post 5.

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Mary’s Follies made her turf debut a winning one, rallying from just off the pace to win the G3 Boling Springs by ½ length over a course labeled “good.” The win was so impressive in fact that it enticed trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. to purchase the filly on behalf of Paul Pompa Jr., co-owner of 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown. Mary’s Follies sports a pair of works over the Aqueduct turf course in preparation for this and will have Ramon Dominguez in the irons for the first time from post 3. Dutrow also has Ain’t Love Grand entered Main Track Only with Cornelio Velasquez aboard.

After finishing second and third in a pair of turf tries as a juvenile, Keertana has won three in a row this year on the lawn, including the G3 Regret two back and Indiana Distaff in her most recent. Jose Lezcano rides from post 4 for trainer Tom Proctor.

A wet turf course would certainly hurt the chances of Lady Shakespeare, a full-sister to one of the best turf horses in recent memory, Shakespeare. While three for three on firm going, her lone defeat on the lawn came over a soft Woodbine course in the G3 Natalma late last summer. Shakespeare himself suffered his lone defeat over a water-logged Belmont turf in the 2005 B.C. Turf. Kent Desormeaux rides for trainer Roger Attfield from the rail. Attfield will also saddle Miss Keller, who’ll make her U.S. debut in the Lake George with Javier Castellano aboard from post 6.

D. Wayne Lukas is hoping a surface switch a slight drop in class will help Be Fair, who’s run in four consecutive G1 events of late. Rajiv Maragh will ride from post 2. Strike the Bell finished second in an overnight stakes at Belmont after breaking her maiden two back for trainer Dave Donk. She’ll break from post 7 under Cornelio Velasquez.

Robby Albarado will pilot The Best Day Ever, second in the Regret two back, from post 8 for trainer Ken McPeek. Boling Springs runner-up Kiawah Cat makes her third start off a layoff and with blinkers for trainer Bill Mott. She’ll break from post 9 and gets a key rider switch to Julien Leparoux.

THE PLAY I really like Lady Shakespeare but not if the course is wet. If it’s wet, I think Consequence will be awful tough. So, today I will list two different sets of wagers.

FIRM/GOOD COURSE PLAYS: Bet $30 to win on Lady Shakespeare, then make a $1 trifecta part-wheel using Lady Shakespeare with Mary’s Follies, Keertana and Consequence with All, for a cost of $21. Also, make a $1 trifecta part-wheel using Consequence with Lady Shakespeare with All. That costs $7. Total wagers cost $58.

SOFT/YIELDING COURSE PLAYS: Bet $30 to win on Consequence, then make a $1 trifecta part-wheel using Consequence with Lady Shakespeare, Mary’s Follies and Keertana with All, which costs $21. Also, make a $1 trifecta part-wheel using Lady Shakespeare with Consequence with All. That costs $7. Total wagers cost $58.

All plays are canceled if the Lake George comes off the turf. Good luck!!!!