Lucky Chuck keeps improving

Trainer David Pate hopes Lucky Chuck will continue to mature as a racehorse when he faces five other 3-year-old Indiana-breds in the $70,000 Snack at six furlongs at Indiana Downs on Saturday.

"We gave him a break after the Turfway meet, and he has really matured during that time," he said. "His mind would wander a bit, but now he is all business."

Lucky Chuck ran in four stakes at Turfway earlier in the year before getting a six-week layoff. Pate entered him in a local fourth-level statebred allowance at six furlongs May 14. He won by 2 1/4 lengths, but Pate said the performance was even better than that.

"He got left at the gate," Pate said. "He spotted the field probably six lengths and still circled the field to win easy. It was a good race for him."

Lucky Chuck also benefited from going from the Polytrack at Turfway to the dirt of Indiana.

"He can run on anything but is a better horse on the dirt" Pate said.

There appears to be plenty of speed in the Snack, although Lucky Chuck usually doesn't come from very far back.

"He usually lays pretty close unless he breaks bad like last time," he said. "We'll just have to wait and see how it sets up when the gate opens."

Leandro Goncalves retains the mount. Others in the field include Spiritual Order, Prohibitive, Mutakddim's Crown, Jo Jo's Knockout, and Motown Boy.