Lucky Sabre can pay off right away

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Trainer Chuck Jenda is not known for making many claims, but he never had a second thought about plunking down $62,500 to claim Lucky Sabre two weeks ago.

Jenda said he hopes to get a quick return on the investment when he sends Lucky Sabre 1 1/16 miles against six rivals in the $50,000 Alameda County Fillies and Mares Handicap at Pleasanton on Monday.

"We want to try to run her in stakes around here, but [owner Stonestreet Stables] wanted her as a broodmare, and this was a price they were willing to pay," Jenda said.

Lucky Sabre, bred by the late John Franks, was purchased from a dispersal sale by her former trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, who will send out Secret Corsage and Relaxing Green on Monday.

As a broodmare prospect, Lucky Sabre has strong breeding and has already won a stakes, the Vallejo as a 3-year-old. As a runner, she has enough speed to get good stalking position.

While her future in the breeding shed is what attracted Lucky Sabre's new owners, her winning effort when claimed has Jenda excited about her racing career.

In that race, Lucky Sabre won at 4-5, stalking nicely and pulling away to win with authority from along the rail. What impressed Jenda about the effort is that it came from the rail on a day when the outside was playing much better.

"I always try to pay attention to bias," he said.

While he brings Lucky Sabre back perhaps a bit quicker than he normally might, Jenda had limited options. The only other stakes route on the fair circuit doesn't come until Santa Rosa opens, and it will be on the turf.

Lucky Sabre had an easy maintenance drill since being claimed and came out of it well, so Jenda said he decided to run.

"Fortunately, things have worked out," he said.

Things also worked out with the way the race seems to set up. Platinum Princess and the Hollendorfer duo of Secret Corsage and Relaxing Green all like to be part of the pace. Platinum Princess has the most speed.

With three runners committed to the front, though, the pace figures to be brisk. That works well for Lucky Sabre, who likes to stalk from just off the pace.

A Song in A Minor also likes to stalk and will probably be just in front of Lucky Sabre, but she's been off 5 1/2 months and runs better after having a prep.