Ismelucky gets stakes test off layoff in Barretts Debutante

CYPRESS, Calif. – Just when Ismelucky seemed poised for a big summer campaign, the filly was sidelined shortly after an impressive maiden win at Santa Anita in May.

“I own half of her, and I didn’t want to push her when she wasn’t 100 percent,” trainer Jeff Bonde recalled earlier this week.

Ismelucky has not started since winning a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs in her second start on May 18, and missed the Del Mar summer meeting. On Saturday, Ismelucky will have her stakes debut in the $100,000 Barretts Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos. The race is restricted to fillies that passed through a Barretts sale. Ismelucky was purchased for $90,000 at the Barretts October yearling sale last fall, the second-most-expensive filly of the sale.

Despite the layoff, Ismelucky will be favored in the Debutante, which is run at 6 1/2 furlongs and drew a field of nine. There are seven maidens in the field. Expendy won a $30,000 claiming race for maidens at Los Alamitos last Sunday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ismelucky, by Lucky Pulpit
Beyers: 58-61

◗ Bonde said Ismelucky needed a brief rest after her maiden win.

“She got a little tight behind,” he said. “I backed off her.”

A California-bred, Ismelucky beat open company in her maiden win. Owned by Bonde and Jerome Russell, Ismelucky has had a steady pattern of workouts since early August, including two six-furlong workouts in recent weeks.

“She’s trained very well and we’re ready to go,” Bonde said.

◗ Her pedigree suggests a stakes win is within reach. Ismelucky is by the late leading stallion Lucky Pulpit and is out of Ismene, who won two sprint stakes for 2-year-old fillies in 2011.

◗ Ismelucky will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux, who swept the two stakes at Los Alamitos last Saturday. Martin Garcia, sidelined with back issues, won on Ismelucky in May. Bonde expects Ismelucky to be prominent from the start from the inside post.

“She got tactical speed,” he said.

Exuberance, by Archarcharch
Beyer: 51

◗ Exuberance was third in her debut in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 26, closing from seventh in a field of nine to finish 3 1/4 lengths behind True Royalty. Exuberance was finishing quickly, leaving trainer Ian Kruljac hopeful that the longer distance of the Barretts Debutante will suit her.

Exuberance was purchased for $100,000 at the Barretts select sale of 2-year-olds in training in March at Del Mar.

Helen’s Tiger, by Smiling Tiger
Last 3 Beyers: 46-43-33

◗ Helen’s Tiger is the most experienced filly in the field, with three starts, and must improve to be a factor. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Helen’s Tiger was third in two starts during the Del Mar summer meeting – a maiden special weight race on July 19 and a $50,000 claimer for California-bred maiden fillies on Aug. 24.

In the latter race, Helen’s Tiger was within 1 1/4 lengths of the lead with a furlong to go, but was beaten 2 1/4 lengths. She will be fitted with blinkers for the first time on Saturday.