Lucky Island tries to regain his old form

ELMONT, N.Y. - Through the first half of 2008, Lucky Island had established himself as one of the top sprinters in the country with a four-race win streak capped by a dominant score in the here.

Things have gone south for Lucky Island ever since. After losing his last three races of 2008, Lucky Island was injured in his only race of 2009. Friday, Lucky Island attempts to return to his form of yesteryear when he runs in the $65,000 Spooky Mulder Stakes at Belmont Park.

A field of seven was entered for the six-furlong Spooky Mulder, including the multiple graded-stakes winner Songster, Accredit, and Gold Trippi.

In Lucky Island's lone start this year, the at Aqueduct in March, he finished fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Ah Day. According to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Lucky Island came out of the race with a puncture wound to his left front ankle and needed plenty of time to recover.

"He was due for a break anyway, but he got his break then,'' McLaughlin said.

When he was on, Lucky Island would break from the gate sharply. But toward the end of last year and in the Toboggan, Lucky Island was not breaking well.

"Hopefully, the time off has done him good,'' McLaughlin said. "It has in his training. He didn't run bad last time, but it's better if he breaks sharp and is in the game.''

If he does break sharp, Lucky Island may find some company on the front end in the form of Songster, and a former McLaughlin trainee, Accredit. Songster, now 6, won the 2006 Woody Stephens and the 2007 Bold Ruler over this track. He was brought back out of retirement late last year and finished third in a in an allowance at Delaware Park.

Accredit, meanwhile, won the here in May. He turns back to six furlongs, a distance at which he has recorded five of his six career victories.

A hot pace could set things up nicely for Gold Trippi, who won an . Gold Trippi bobbled coming out of the gate in the Forego, and had no running room in the stretch while being defeated just six lengths.