Got Lucky Goes Last to First in Juddmonte Spinster

Philip Steinberg and Hill 'n' Dale Equine's Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) proved she was both lucky and talented with her first win at the highest level in Sunday's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland, earning a spot in the starting gate for the

GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in less than a month. Got Lucky was away well and settled well off the pace as

GI Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) set the pace with Yahilwa (Medaglia d'Oro) pressing in second as favored Untapable (Tapit) tracked those two early. Yahilwa led by a narrow margin entering the turn as Untapable swung to the tree path to challenge. Got Lucky, who was in last as the field hit the final bend, began to zip up the rail to sit in fourth at the top of the lane. Untapable and Yahilwa continued to battle in upperstretch as Lovely Maria dropped back and Got Lucky continued her sustained rally to catch the leading duo in the shadow of the wire for a narrow victory. Untapable was second.

“Where I was in the Grandstand–I was right at the eighth pole–I thought she had a lot to do at that point, but I could tell she was coming,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I was just hoping she got there in time. She's got as good of a pedigree as any filly in the world, and to get that first Grade I is huge for her.”

Last year's champion filly Untapable has tallied only one win so far this season in the GI Apple Blossom H.

“She ran well, but that is not her best,” trainer Steve Asmussen confessed. “It hasn't fallen together. We brought her here so she could get a feel for the track. This is the first time she has stepped on it that it isn't muddy. Hopefully things will go smoothly with her from here. She has had an extremely disappointing year [yet] she has run out [$800,000]. It's frustrating.”

Got Lucky was bred by her owners, who campaigned her dam Malka–who was bred by Steinberg and Ben Walden. Got Lucky is the third foal out of Malka, who also produced a yet unraced 2-year-old filly named Lucky Number (Smart Strike). This is the deep female family of Grade I winners Rhythm (Not For Love), Super Saver (Maria's Mon), Imagining (Giant's Causeway), Girolamo (A.P. Indy), Callback (Street Sense) and Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat).

Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura said, “It's a huge win. She's by A.P. Indy and just getting better and better with each race as she's gotten older. To win a Grade I with that pedigree is amazing.”

Got Lucky collected a string of runner-up efforts during her juvenile and sophomore seasons, including the GII Demoiselle S., GIII Rachel Alexandra S. and GII Gazelle S. She wrapped up her 3-year-old year with fifths in the GI Alabama S. and GI Spinster S. and kicked off 2015 with an optional claiming win cutting back to a mile at Gulfstream Jan. 15. Fifth in the GIII Rampart S. in February, Got Lucky took a three-month break and returned to finish second in the Monmouth Beach S. May 23. She returned to the winner's circle in a 5 1/2-length romp in the GIII Molly Pitcher S. at Monmouth July 3 and annexed the Lady's Secret S.–with a career best 0 Thorograph number–there Aug. 2. She was a valiant second to Sheer Drama (Burning Roma) in the GI Personal Ensign S. stretching back out to 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga Aug. 29, earning a 1 1/4 Thorograph number.

Sunday, Keeneland
JUDDMONTE SPINSTER S.-GI, $500,000, KEE, 10-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49.44, ft.
1–&GOT LUCKY, 124, f, 4, by A.P. Indy
1st Dam: Malka, by Deputy Minister
2nd Dam: Get Lucky, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Dance Number, by Northern Dancer
O/B-Hill 'N' Dale Equine Holdings Inc. & Philip J.
Steinberg (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz Jr.
$300,000. Lifetime Record: 16-6-6-0, $951,340.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

[bullet ad=”hillndale-foaled-raised”][bullet ad=”hill-n-dale-keenov-hip-354″][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]
2–Untapable, 124, f, 4, Tapit–Fun House, by Prized.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen. $100,000.
3–Yahilwa, 124, m, 5, Medaglia d'Oro–Verbanella, by
Smart Strike. ($52,000 Ylg '11 KEESEP; 97,142gns
2yo '12 TATBRE; 45,000gns 3yo '13 TA13). O-D. P.
Racing; B-Avalon Farms, Inc. (KY); T-James M.
Cassidy. $50,000.

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Margins: NK, HD, 4. Odds: 3.60, 1.60, 20.90.
Also Ran: Frivolous, Lovely Maria, Tiz Windy, Flashy American, Mei Ling, Diva's Diamond.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.