SARATOGA SPRINGS — In May, Bullion Cache became the first starter for Starlight Partners, a new high-end syndicate headed by Schenectady native Don Lucarelli and Saratoga Springs resident Jack Wolf.

Last month, the 2-year-old Seeking the Gold colt gave the group its first victory, a five-furlong maiden triumph at Churchill Downs.

Today, the Todd Pletcher trainee can provide another first: to place in a stakes race.

Bullion Cache drew post five of seven in the Grade II $150,000 Sanford for 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course.

It was a 2-year-old filly, now-retired millionaire Octave, that gave Lucarelli his first win as an owner at Saratoga in the 2005 Adirondack.

“There’s a lot of lightning around; maybe it’ll strike twice,” Lucarelli said between races amid the scattered thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon.

“At this track, anything can happen. Saratoga has taken a lot of good horses down, and it’s done a lot of crazy things. We’re just hopeful the horse runs a real good race, comes out of it sound and we live to fight another battle . . . and pick up the right check.”

The task will be a bit easier without likely favorite Notonthesamepage, who will miss the race with a fever of 104, trainer Wesley Ward said Wednesday morning.

A son of Catienus, Notonthesamepage had fired back-to-back bullet workouts at Saratoga this month following his maiden victory April 30 at Churchill Downs. In that race, he set a track record of :50.12 for 41⁄2 furlongs and earned a 104 Beyer, easily the highest of any 2-year-old this year.

“It’s a shame; it really is,” Ward said. “He’s been breathing fire every day for 85 days and the day before the race, this happens. That’s horse racing. If that’s the worst that happens for him, that’s all right.”

The inclement weather may cost the Sanford another top contender in Desert Party, purchased as a 2-year-old in training by Darley Stable for $2.1 million in February. Desert Party brushed the gate and had to come from off the pace to win his debut June 22 at Arlington Park.

“I was very impressed. I think he’s a real nice horse,” trainer Eoin Harty said. “It’s too bad I’ll probably have to scratch him. When you have good 2-year-olds and are thinking down the road, it’s not an ideal scenario to run on an off racetrack.”

An off track may not deter Bullion Cache, who was purchased for $320,000 at the Keeneland September sale last fall.

“He’s by Seeking the Gold, so he has a real good wet number. Maybe that will move him up,” Lucarelli said. “The horse has shown gate speed, and we’re hopeful Johnny will be able to get him out of there and maybe get the right trip.”

Following his June 22 victory, where he beat Who’s the Rockstar by 21⁄2 lengths, Bullion Cache was brought to Saratoga to prep for the meet.

“Once the horse broke his maiden, we really had this race or the Saratoga Special earmarked for him,” Lucarelli said. “It’s a chance to gauge what type of horse we had. Todd had a couple of otehr horses nominated, but their race schedules didn’t fit.”