Lucullan holds off Sacred Heart by a nose in Lure Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Lucullan showed he was stakes quality when he lost a neck decision to Yoshida - while finishing ahead of Bricks and Mortar - in the Grade 3 Hill Prince in the fall of 2017.

It took nearly two years - and a lot of patience - but Lucullan finally got his first stakes victory Saturday, holding off a slow-starting Sacred Life to win the $100,000 Lure Stakes by a nose at Saratoga. It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Ticonderoga in third.

Lucullan, a 5-year-old son of Hard Spun owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, was making just his second start since returning from a hind leg fracture suffered in the summer of 2018, about a month after he finished third in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont.

“The owners were patient and gave him a long time off. He’s a beautiful horse, trains great, does everything right, and it’s neat to see him in the winner’s circle here,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

Lucullan settled into third, about five lengths off the early pace, while Voodoo Song was winging it on the lead, opening up a four-length lead over Noble Indy through a quarter in 23.38 seconds and half-mile in 46.97 seconds.

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Lucullan advanced three wide outside of Voodoo Song and Noble Indy and struck the front turning for home. He seemed to hesitate for a few strides so Saez tried to motivate him. Lucullan seemed more inspired by the oncoming Sacred Life, who rallied five wide under Irad Ortiz Jr., and was able to hold that one off at the wire.

Lucullan covered the 1 1/16 miles over turf in 1:39.63 and returned $5.90 as the favorite.

McLaughlin said Saez told him he made the lead sooner than he would have liked.

“He said he wanted to wait, he got there a little too soon - easy - but he said he dug back in,” McLaughlin said. “A win’s a win, we’re happy.”
McLaughlin said a race like Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap here on Labor Day would be under consideration for Lucullan.

Sacred Life, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., was making his first start in the U.S. and as so many former European-based horses do, broke slowly. Down the backside, he was 10 1/2 lengths off it before coming with a huge run that fell just short at the wire.

“Missed the break,” Ortiz said. “I have no position then I’m riding all the way. I started [asking] on the turn, showed him the whip, hit him a couple of times a little early but I have to. He picked it up late, he was coming but it’s a little short for him probably.”

Sacred Life finished three-quarters of a length in front of Ticonderoga. Following him, in order, were Noble Indy, Say the Word, Projected, and Voodoo Song. Gidu was scratched.