Ad Lutem tries to duplicate impressive debut
Is Ad Lutem as good as her first race seems to indicate? Trainer Ralph Nicks will get the answer to that question Sunday at Gulfstream Park when he sends out the 3-year-old homebred against just four other fillies in the afternoon’s featured event, a first-level optional $12,500 claimer for Florida-breds going a mile.
Ad Lutem ran to expectations in her debut March 24, registering a seven-length victory going 6 1/2 furlongs as the 9-5 favorite. She broke tardily from the rail that afternoon and must begin from the inside post again Sunday.
“Her first race was a little bit of a surprise, as easily as she won, but she’s a nice, mature filly and has some quality about her, especially in the way she acts,” said Nicks. “She didn’t break real alertly from the inside the first time, although I think that was more from the lack of experience than anything else. But she’s never been that quick away from there, so I’m not really concerned about drawing the rail again. It’s a long run down the backside going a mile, and Juan [Leyva] will just have to figure out what she wants to do.
“I think she has a good chance to be a really good Florida-bred,” Nicks added. “I took it a little slower with her early on, and it looks like it might have been beneficial to her. She’s matured a lot, both mentally and physically, since we’ve had her.”
Ad Lutem earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure in her debut, which matches the number posted by Whipsnade in her most recent start. A 4-year-old with a big experience edge on the likely favorite, Whipsnade also has a turn of early foot. She led throughout to register her second win in five lifetime starts when stretching out around two turns and making her turf debut after being switched to trainer Brendan Walsh’s barn.
Summer in Seattle and Diplomatic Affair also enter the race off a victory. Summer in Seattle led throughout for a 4 1/4-length victory over straight 3-year-olds while racing under a $16,000 claiming tag and going a mile earlier this month. Diplomatic Affair earned her diploma in her sixth start, rallying to a six-length triumph going 1 1/16 miles with a $25,000 price tag on her head for trainer Steve DiMauro on March 16.
Candy’s Lady, haltered for $6,250 out of each of her last two races, takes a big jump into allowance company for her new connections, with her six career victories giving her as many wins as the rest of the field combined.