Bronzed gets the gold in Lookin At Lucky Stakes

Bronzed proved gamest of all in the Lookin At Lucky Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park, battling from start to finish and coming out on top in the $75,000 race for 3-year-olds.

Breaking from post 2 under Nik Juarez, Bronzed raced nearest the rail in a three-horse battle with The Big S and Sombeyay. The trio blazed an opening quarter-mile in 22.20 seconds and a half-mile in 44.96. The pace eventually took its toll on The Big S – the narrow favorite over Bronzed – and he dropped back to third in the lane while Bronzed and Sombeyay, piloted by Joe Bravo, dueled to the wire. Bronzed prevailed by a nose in a photo finish, while Sombeyay had 5 1/2 lengths on The Big S. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Sir Truebadour in fourth, and he was followed home by Chess Master and Fix Me a Sandwich.

Bronzed, who was making his first start as a gelding on Sunday, completed six furlongs in 1:10.07 and returned $5.40. Trainer Jason Servis claimed him for $50,000 on behalf of Michael Dubb out of a third-place finish in a maiden race at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 7.

“You’d have to think gelding him made a difference," Servis told Monmouth publicity after the race. "He got the job done. He broke good. I left it to Nik. He broke good and went on. This horse, if you look who he was running against – Mind Control, Uncle Benny, Joevia – there were a couple of key horses that [co-owner] Michael Dubb said we should watch this horse. That’s why he claimed him.”

Bronzed now has three wins in four starts since the claim, with Sunday's victory, his first in a stakes, pushing his bankroll to $109,327 for Dubb and Bethlehem Stables.

Juarez said he was grateful for the victory.

"At the wire Joe Bravo turned and said 'Great ride, Nik.' To be head-and-head for as long as we were down the stretch with Joe Bravo at Monmouth Park it makes you really appreciate it when you win.”