SPINSTER STAKES

(Grade 1)

GOT Lucky, four-year-old filly from the last crop of A.P. Indy picked up her first Grade 1 victory for trainer Todd Pletcher when she came with a late run to beat Untapable and longshot Yahilwa in the nine furlong $500,000 Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes on Keeneland last Sunday.

The filly, who is a close relation to two Kentucky Derby winners in Girolomo and Super Saver, also secured an automatic berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Pletcher collected his third Spinster win, having sent out 2007 winner Panty Raid and In Lingerie in 2012.

The winner gave Hill ‘n’ Dale owner John Sikura his first Grade I Keeneland win as an owner.

“She was born and raised on the farm,” Sikura said. “We bred (the mare) to A.P. Indy, I think, five times in his last year and this is how she got the name. It’s a great reward to have a filly like this from the last crop of a great stallion and a really good family we raised.”

The race was billed as a match between two Kentucky Oaks winners in the 2014 Eclipse Award winning filly Uptapable and this year’s winner Lovely Maria.

Sent off at 7/2 in a field of nine after her runner-up finish to Sheer Drama in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign in late August, Got Lucky and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. settled at the back of the pack early, as Lovely Maria showed the way tracked by Yahilwa. Untapable, sent off favourite, raced in third.

Rounding the turn for home, Untapable took on Yahilwa, who fought on but it was Got Lucky who found just enough to secure the victory by a neck.

“I followed instructions,” Ortiz said. “Last time I was a little too far back. She came late. Today she broke good.

“I was in the back, and she came running at the end. I stayed close to the rail and then swung her out. When she got clear, she took off. I thought I had a pretty good shot.”

Lovely Maria finished fifth and her form seems to have tailed off, trainer Larry Jones indicated she would now be rested until next season.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said of last year’s champion filly Untapable: “Story of her year, she was pretty aggressive behind horses on the first turn and she didn’t really relax once she got to the outside of those.

“She’s a good mare that’s not running her best races. She ran well, but that’s not her best. Hopefully things will go smoothly with her from here.”