Change in strategy gives Inspector Lynley win in Lure

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Shug McGaughey said he had hoped Inspector Lynley would break alertly and sit right behind the leaders in Saturday’s $100,000 Lure Stakes. But after a slow beginning, jockey Jose Lezcano went to Plan B, a change in strategy that allowed Inspector Lynley to rally from last to a three-quarter length decision over the 2-1 favorite Projected in the Lure, a race postponed from last Saturday due to wet weather.

The weather wasn’t much better in the hours leading up to the Lure this week either, with more rain producing another turf course that had some give in it throughout the day and which was officially rated “good” for the 1 1/16-mile Lure.

Inspector Lynley checked briefly at the break, after which Lezcano allowed the multiple Grade 3 winner to settle at the rear of the field and about a half-dozen lengths off the pace set by Mr. Cub and forced from the outset by both Forge and defending champ Zennor. Forge and Zennor emerged on the lead turning for home, but by that time Inspector Lynley was advancing menacingly from the outside, striking the front near the sixteenth pole, edging away, then withstanding a late surge from a troubled Projected, who was forced to check a couple of times in traffic through the final quarter-mile.

Conquest Panthera, who gained a brief lead nearing the furlong marker, weakened late to finish third, a half-length behind Projected. Forge, Blacktype, Zennor, and Mr. Cub rounded out the order of finish.

His victory in the Lure ended a frustrating streak to start the season for Inspector Lynley, who had finished second twice and third while beaten a combined length over his first three starts of the year. Owned by the partnership of Stuart Janney II and Phipps Stable, the winner returned $8.60 after completing the distance in 1:43.30.

“I was hoping he’d break good and maybe lay right in behind Mr. Cub,” McGaughey said. “But when he didn’t, Jose was patient and didn’t hit the panic button. He let him sit back there and get his feet under him while also kind of riding Projected a little bit, keeping him down inside of him. You could see he had a lot of horse under him. It was just a matter of when he set him down, if he’d handle the softer turf. And it worked out fine.”