Lucrezia passes two-turn test in Suncoast Stakes

Thirty minutes after upsetting the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes with Jehozacat, the team of jockey Daniel Centeno and trainer Arnaud Delacour was back in the Tampa Bay Downs winner’s circle Saturday following Lucrezia’s one-sided five-length victory in the $150,000 Suncoast for 3-year-old fillies.

Lucrezia, who had never been beyond six furlongs but was coming off a victory in the Sandpiper Stakes in her local debut, handled two turns like a seasoned veteran in the one mile and 40-yard Suncoast. Centeno got her to relax just off the early pace of two-time stakes winner Two Sixty. They readily overtook the leader leaving the backstretch, settled into the stretch with a comfortable lead, and continued to widen through the final furlong.

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Kentucky invader Turtle Trax rallied down the center of the track to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of third-place Motu, who was co-favored with Blame Debbie at 3-1.

Lucrezia is a homebred daughter of Into Mischief owned by Beverly Anderson and Edward Seltzer. Her final time for the distance was 1:39.99. She paid $13.80 while also earning the 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points that goes to the winner of the ungraded Suncoast.

“There was a question mark about the two turns,” Delacour said. “We knew she had the speed, but obviously after that, there's no question. She did everything [Centeno] wanted.”