Lucky Tec best in Niagara Falls

TORONTO, Ontario - Lucky Tec became the first double stakes winner of the Fort Erie meeting on Sunday, outfooting 2-5 favorite Rare Friends to score by 3 1/2 lengths in the $60,000, six-furlong .

Owned by Railbird Stable and trained by Daryl Ezra, Lucky Tec had captured the five-furlong Expedite Plus in his last start here June 6. Martin Ramirez was aboard for both wins.

Lucky Tec, racing as part of an entry with Ashagio, returned $6.30 as the second choice in the field of five Canadian-bred older males.

Rare Friends, taken out of his game plan after steadying mildly at the break, closed for second money. Rundle, Ashagio, and Pinedale Star completed the order of finish.

Lucky Tec, a 6-year-old gelding, has now won eight of 27 starts and finished second and third six times each while banking $350,815. He was claimed for $32,000 by his current connections on May 4, 2003 at Woodbine.