For Immediate Release: Saturday, December 1, 2017
PRINCE LUCKY ROLLS TO VICTORY IN PA NURSERY
Reserved off the pace in the early going, Dan McConnell?s Prince Lucky rolled past his rivals with a little more than a furlong to run and pulled away late for a most impressive two and three-quarter length victory in the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes Saturday afternoon at Parx Racing. Stakes placed two starts back at Delaware Park, the son of Corinthian left little doubt who was best in winning the first stakes race of his young and promising career.
Despite not getting off to a particularly good start, winning jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr, rode the rest of the race like he clearly knew he was on the best horse. Sitting sixth in the field of eight after the opening furlong of the seven furlong test for PA-bred two year-old colts and geldings, Santana was in no hurry aboard Prince Lucky. Longshot leader Jw?strickymischief was being pushed along up front through a first quarter of 22.50 while Price Lucky sat about three lengths behind and always looking like he was eager to run on. Still patient past the half mile pole, he moved up a spot to fifth but had made no dent in the lead up front, Santana again riding with total confidence. Entering the far turn after a half mile in 46.11, Santana gave his colt a little more rein, eased him outside to get clear running and began to make his run toward the lead.
With horses on his inside, Prince Lucky was forced four wide coming to the quarter pole and then was floated a good six wide nearing the top of the stretch, but it mattered not. Santana straightened him away, shook the reins at him briefly and he responded with a powerful surge, taking command with about an eighth of a mile to go. Quickly drawing away, Santana eased off the gas late and coasted home with Prince Lucky comfortably in front.
Trained by Larry Jones, Prince Lucky went off as a heavy 4-5 favorite and paid $3.60, 2.40 and 2.10. Tudox Expectations (12-1) raced just off the pace in the early stages, held the lead briefly turning for home and stayed on well for second, returning 7.60 and 5.20. Jw?strickymischief (16-1) set a pressured pace, tired a bit late, but still finished a clear third, paying 7.00 to show. The final time over a track labeled fast was 1:27.62.
