Arlington: Run Lucky tries to avoid trouble

After putting together a productive Oaklawn Park meet in the first three starts of his career, Run Lucky has found little good luck in his two most recent outings. "Ducked out, bumped start," reads his running-line comment for the eighth race on May 20 at Churchill Downs; "Slow start, shut off," reads the one from the 10th race June 9 at Churchill.

But Run Lucky might not need Lady Luck fully backing his number to win the second race at Arlington Park. He looks superior enough to his five rivals that even a troubled trip might get the job done.

Despite the trouble last time out, Run Lucky, trained by Steve Hobby for Alex and Joanne Lieblong, finished a close third. Hobby adds blinkers for this race, and with an alert break from the rail, Run Lucky makes the early lead, and probably never looks back.

A possible upsetter is Brave n'Able, who required a drop into a $25,000 maiden claiming race to score his first win a couple of months ago. He improved enough off that start to finish second in a race at this first allowance level in his most recent start.