Hello Lucky handles Anoakia Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - After finishing behind the best 2-year-old fillies in California earlier this year, Hello Lucky found a field that could not keep up with her in Sunday's $85,350 Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, Hello Lucky ($6.60) led throughout the Anoakia, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 9-1 No Bull Baby. Hello Lucky ran six furlongs in 1:10.

"She's a quick filly," Stevens said. "She wound up relaxing for me an eighth of a mile out of the gate and I got to give her a little bit of a breather around the turn."

Bulita finished third in the field of 10 2-year-old fillies. She's a Jewel, the 8-5 favorite, finished ninth.

Hello Lucky races for Charles Cono and trainer Christopher Paasch. Earlier this year, she was third in the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes and Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and fifth in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes.

Hello Lucky lost the last two starts to Sweet Catomine, a top contender for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. In each race, she challenged for the lead and faded. Paasch said Hello Lucky lost a shoe in the Oak Leaf Stakes.

Hello Lucky has won 3 of 6 starts and $142,140. She will be pointed for the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes over seven furlongs at Hollywood Park on Nov. 21.