Got Lucky surges to victory late in Spinster

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Got Lucky was up just in time to nail a pair of dueling frontrunners Sunday in a thrilling 60th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.

With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Got Lucky bided her time toward the back of the nine-horse field until gaining steadily and angling out for the stretch drive in the 1 1/8-mile Spinster. Still four lengths back passing the furlong pole, her relentless surge carried her to a neck triumph over Untapable, the 8-5 favorite who outlasted Yahilwa by a head after a stretch-long battle.

With her first Grade 1 win, Got Lucky, a 4-year-old filly by A.P. Indy, returned $9.20 as third choice. She earned an expenses-paid berth to the Oct. 30 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland.

“It was a perfect trip,” said Ortiz. “She was ready when I asked her, and she came running at the end.”

The victory was the third in the Spinster for trainer Todd Pletcher, who was on hand from New York.

“She’s an A.P. Indy who’s just gotten better and better,” said Pletcher, who confirmed Got Lucky will remain at Keeneland to train toward the BC Distaff.

Pletcher previously won in 2007 with Panty Raid and in 2012 with In Lingerie.

“As the year has gone on, she has gotten bigger and stronger,” he said. “She really handled the track well today, so we’re excited about running back in the Distaff.”

Before a sun-splashed crowd of 12,174, Lovely Maria seized the early lead from the rail post but soon was hounded from the outside by Yahilwa, a Southern California invader dismissed at 20-1. Down the backside and into the far turn, those two raced in tandem, with Untapable poised to pounce. By the quarter-pole, as Lovely Maria began to fade along the rail, Yahilwa and Untapable began going toe to toe just as Got Lucky was set down for her winning drive.

Owned by Philip Steinberg and the Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings of John Sikura, Got Lucky now has won 6 of 16 career starts after finishing in 1:49.44 over a fast track. In her three prior starts, she was an easy winner of two Monmouth Park stakes before finishing second to Sheer Drama in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on the Aug. 29 Travers card at Saratoga. She earned $300,000 Sunday and now has banked $951,340.

After the top three, the order was Frivolous, Lovely Maria, Tiz Windy, Flashy American, Mei Ling, and Diva’s Diamond.

With Untapable, the 2014 winner, and Lovely Maria, the 2015 winner, the Spinster marked the first matchup of Kentucky Oaks winners in more than 15 years. An Oaks champion didn’t win that time, either. Silverbulletday was fourth and Keeper Hill was fifth in a May 2000 race at Churchill Downs.

Untapable, the 2014 BC Distaff winner, also is expected to run back this year.

The $2 exacta (4-3) paid $26.20, the $1 trifecta (4-3-6) returned $146, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-3-6-9) was worth $31.56.