Lucky Girl tops D'Amato trio in Swingtime Stakes

Minutes after Lucky Girl finished fourth in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar in August, jockey Joe Bravo blamed himself for the loss.

“Joe jumped off the horse and said, ‘I had her too far back and waited too long,’ ” trainer Phil D’Amato recalled Friday.

Lucky Girl had little good fortune at the Del Mar summer meeting, beginning the two-month season with a troubled sixth in the Osunitas Stakes at a mile on turf July 22.

The losses preserved her eligibility for the $80,000 Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares on Monday at Santa Anita. The one-mile turf race is restricted to nonwinners of a stakes worth $60,000 or more to the winner at a mile or longer this year. Statebred stakes are exempt from the restriction.

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Lucky Girl, who races for Panic Stable, is winless in seven starts since the China Doll Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies in March 2022 when she was trained by Richard Baltas. Lucky Girl joined D’Amato’s stable earlier this year.

“She’s rounding into good form,” D’Amato said. “She’ll get a nice solid pace to run at. Joe Bravo knows her well.

“She’s a filly that she settles and finishes strong. You need to know when to move on her.”

Lucky Girl is part of a field of 11 in the Swingtime Stakes that includes two other runners trained by D’Amato – Hamwood Flier and Oakhurst.

Hamwood Flier won the 2022 Swingtime Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths, leading by as many as eight lengths. A winner of 3 of 8 starts, the 5-year-old Hamwood Flier has not raced since she finished fourth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar last December.

“The turf course seems favorable to her style,” D’Amato said.

Hamwood Flier was sidelined because of a “bunch of little things,” D’Amato said. “The owners were great in giving her more time than needed.”

Hamwood Flier, who races for Rockingham Racing, Michael Talla, and David Bernsen, will be ridden by Mike Smith. Hamwood Flier could be challenged for the lead by Lucky for You, a winner on turf and dirt for trainer Bob Baffert, and Freedom Flyer, who won the Wishing Well Stakes on the hillside turf course in February.

“I’ve got a hot Mike Smith,” D’Amato said. “When he’s on his game, he’s the best with those kind of horses. I’m very hopeful.”

Oakhurst was fourth in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares on Sept. 9 at Del Mar, stalking the pace before finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind Closing Remarks.

“The last race there was no pace and she was closer up,” D’Amato said. “She likes to have pace to run at, and I think she’ll get it.”

A fast pace will help the tactical filly Eddie’s New Dream, who has won three stakes on turf for statebreds in the last year for trainer Ben Cecil, including the Solana Beach Stakes at a mile on Aug. 25.

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