Leap Year Luck wins maiden in Desert Vixen Stakes

Leap Year Luck went into Saturday’s Desert Vixen Stakes at Gulfstream Park a maiden and came out a stakes winner after rallying to a convincing 4 3/4-length victory over her uncoupled stablemate Standard Deal in the opening leg of the fillies’ division of the Florida Sire Series at Gulfstream Park.

Leap Year Luck and Standard Deal are owned by their breeder, Fred Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm, and trained by Stanley Gold. The victory was the 13th in Sire Series history for the potent owner-trainer combination.

Leap Year Luck, who was winless in two previous starts, raced in midpack under jockey Jesus Rios as Standard Deal and Katie’s Kiss dueled through a 22.09-second opening quarter and a 45.15 half-mile. Standard Deal, who had stumbled at the start, survived that battle but ultimately could not win the war, as Leap Year Luck finished full of run down the center of the course to easily overtake her laboring mate and win going away.

Katie’s Kiss also had little left once settling into the stretch, tiring to finish another 2 1/2 lengths back in third.

Leap Year Luck, a daughter of Hear No Evil, completed six furlongs in 1:11.74 and paid $28.80.

“Her last race, she showed that she might belong,” Gold said. “She moved up big when we increased the distance and put blinkers on, and she ran consistent. She didn’t disappoint us.”

Gold said he expected Standard Deal to finish stronger but said the pace scenario ultimately proved a little too much for her to overcome.

“They were cutting it out together, and she didn’t get a breather,” said Gold. “But I was first and second, and I’m certainly not going to complain about that.”