Good and Lucky pulls wire job in slop

NEW ORLEANS - Good and Lucky splashed through the slop Saturday to win the $75,000 Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Jesse Campbell put Good and Lucky right on the lead and Lonnie Meche moved favored Flanders Fields right up to his flank going down the backstretch through a half-mile in 48 seconds. Flanders Fields attempted to get on terms with the leader on the far turn, but after running three-quarters in 1:13.23 Good and Lucky had plenty left. Meche lost his whip in the stretch, and Good and Lucky drew off to a 4 1/4-length victory, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47. Flanders Fields was 5 3/4 lengths clear of Creative Force for second, with Malameeze another 3 1/4 lengths back in fourth.

"It was worth standing in the rain for that," said winning trainer Josie Carroll.

Good and Lucky paid $7 to win. There was no show betting. Originally scheduled for the turf course, the race was switched to the main track because of torrential rain throughout the afternoon, leaving a field of only four after Storm Treasure, International Cat, Nascar Guy, Stradivinsky, Arbuckles Bandit, and Electric Chant all were scratched. The rain knocked out the infield tote board after the sixth race.