Calder: My Pal Chrissy repeats in Elmer Huebeck Distaff

Coady Photography @ Calder Casino & Race Course

With Luca Panici aboard, My Pal Chrissy cruises home in the Elmer Heubeck Distaff.

MIAMI - My Pal Chrissy successfully defended her title in the $150,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap and did it in a big way, drawing off to an easy 7 1/4-length decision over Flying Trip, with the 2-1 favorite, Successful Song, finishing a well-beaten third in the co-featured event on Saturday's Florida Million program at Calder.

My Pal Chrissy had won just once since capturing the 2011 Heubeck Distaff in similar late-running fashion by better than three lengths over Sweet Repent. With regular jockey Luca Panici putting up a patient ride following a slow start, My Pal Chrissy rated mid-pack for nearly six furlongs before accelerating leaving the backstretch and easily cruising past the tiring leaders in early stretch.  Flying Trip circled wide into the stretch to loom boldly but proved no match for the winner, ultimately wearing down the tiring Successful Song by a nose to be second.

My Pal Chrissy, a 4-year-old daughter of Alex's Pal, is trained by Padarath Lutchman for Tonys Investments LLC.  She covered a 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.58 despite being geared down a bit coming to the wire and returned $14.40.

Lezcano wins four on day

Jockey Jose Lezcano completed a Florida Million stakes hat trick with back-to-back victories aboard Nicki Starshine in the $100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies and Close It Out in the $150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap.  Lezcano, who won four races overall on the card, also captured the Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf with Kanturk Kid. 

Nicki Starshine slipped along the hedge, found ample room to launch her rally after pace setter I Ain't Gonna Lie bore out badly into the stretch, then drew off to a convincing 3 1/4-length decision over the 8-5 Verso a Verso in the Franks Juvenile Fillies.  Nicki Starshine, a daughter of Milwaukee Brew, was one of only three fillies in the race with previous experience on the grass.

Nicki Starshine is trained by Bill White for Sunshine Thoroughbred Corp. and paid $10.40.

Close It Out rallied from last, circling wide into the stretch before finishing full of run to best Bahamaian Squall by a neck in the Jack Dudley. The 4-5 Bull Dozer was a well-beaten third.

Close It out, winless in his last six starts, is owned by Samuel Rogers Jr. and trained by Steve Towne. He returned $18.80.

** Bad Debt overcame a rough trip then sweated out a brief stewards' inquiry before being declared the winner of a thrilling $125,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup. Bad Debt rallied from tight quarters through the stretch to register a neck decision over pacesetter Speak Easy Gal, with Alley Oop Oop another nose behind in third and Picou a neck further back finishing fourth.

Bad Debt, who narrowly defeated Picou to win the 2011 Bonnie Heath, paid $3.80. He was ridden to victory by Kenrick Carmouche for owner Robert Leibner and trainer Michael Trombetta.