Dimension rebounds at a big price in Buddy Diliberto Memorial

Dimension turned back the clock Saturday at Fair Grounds, winning for the first time since July 2016 when he captured the $75,000 Buddy Diliberto Stakes.

It wasn’t especially close, either. Dimension, a 39-1 chance under James Graham, made an early move to reach contention, sat second much of the trip behind Turbo Street’s slow fractions of 25.11 and 50.75, took command in midstretch, and crossed the finish 1 1/4 lengths in front of second-place Sir Dudley Digges. Not bad for a 9-year-old making the 41st start of his career.

Dimension, trained by Conor Murphy for Riverside Bloodstock LLC, achieved minor fame for shipping to Woodbine from Kentucky and winning – or coming close to winning – big races year after year. But following a Woodbine win in the Grade 2 King Edward some 17 months ago, Dimension totally lost his form, finishing his 2016 campaign with two bad losses and starting 2017 with two more. Dimension had been beaten less than 10 lengths in the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile in his most recent start, but he also finished 14th in that race, and had not been better than fourth since the King Edward. There was a reason he went postward at nearly 40-1, but Dimension made those odds look silly.

Dimension, an English-bred son of Medicean out of the Green Desert mare Palatial, won for the eighth time and pushed his career earnings past $600,000. He was timed in 1:46.07 for about 1 1/16 miles on firm turf and paid $81.80 to win.

Sir Dudley Digges won a five-horse blanket finish for second. He was a neck better than Up With the Birds, with Saham, High Noon Rider, and Applicator all finishing a neck apart in that order. Thatcher Street, the 2.7-1 favorite, was seventh, and 3-1 second choice Tizarunner was last of nine.

‘Lucky’ wins Letellier with last lunge

Trainer Eddie Kenneally hasn’t stabled at Fair Grounds since the 2003-2004 season, but he has a string in New Orleans this winter, and one of them, She’s Pretty Lucky, won the $50,000 Letellier Memorial Stakes by a nose on Saturday.

Upset Brewing appeared to have the Letellier in hand a half-furlong out, but She’s Pretty Lucky ground away under Florent Geroux, closed on the leader in the final 50 yards, and just did get her head down in this dirt sprint for 2-year-old fillies. She’s Pretty Lucky ran six furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.06 and paid $8 to win.

It was three lengths back to 2.9-1 favorite Vision of Justice in third. Stellar Moon had a troubled trip and ran decently for fourth. The race was marred by the backstretch breakdown of My Girl Janelle, who was pulled up in distress. My Girl Janelle sustained a broken right front cannon bone and had to be euthanized, according to trainer Steve Margolis.

Vision of Justice, Waki Patriot, and Upset Brewing set good pace, going the first quarter in 21.68 and the half in 45.80, with Upset Brewing taking over and going a half-length clear at the stretch call. Geroux by then was working hard on She’s Pretty Lucky, who looked defeated before a final surge got her home.

She’s Pretty Lucky won her debut over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs by a neck and then finished a well-beaten fourth in the one-mile Rags to Riches Stakes there on Oct. 29. Kenneally freshened his filly up, cut her back in distance, and got the right result. She’s Pretty Lucky is a Texas homebred owned by Will Kari. She’s by Lookin At Lucky and was produced by the War Chant mare Pretty Amusing.