Meadowlands: Katie's Lucky Day dazzles in Graduate Mares Trot

Katie's Lucky Day exploded past 3-5 favorite Bella Bellini in the stretch to capture the inaugural Graduate Series opening leg for 4-year-old trotting mares on Saturday night at the Meadowlands in an eye-catching 1:50 career-best clocking. Driven by Tim Tetrick, Katie's Lucky Day, one of two Ohio-sired mares in the field of seven, won for just the first time in four tries in 2022.

Tetrick had Katie's Lucky Day leave alertly from the start and on the lead by the first turn. Herculisa and David Miller moved up on her outside, though, and secured the front prior to the 27 2/5 first quarter. Herculisa then yielded readily when Dexter Dunn and favorite Bella Bellini came calling well before the half. Bella Bellini cut a rated half of 55 4/5 and was put to pressure when Herculisa pulled the pocket after the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters.

Tetrick bided his time as the two favorites dueled through the early stretch, then angled the daughter of Uncle Peter to the outside. Katie's Lucky Day shifted into high gear, and she rolled by the top two horses as if they were standing still.

Katie's Lucky Day took home top prize in the $40,000 contest for owners Black Magic Racing LLC. and Patrick Hoopes. Sent off as the 7-2 third choice in the field, Katie's Lucky Day returned $9 to win.

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An upset winner over Bella Bellini in the Kentucky Filly Futurity last fall, Katie's Lucky Day, trained by Todd Luther, clearly defined her place in what figures to be a contentious Graduate Series for some prized 4-year-old trotting mares.

"She always give 100 percent," said Luther. "She loves a target. Loves to run them down. You can never take anything away from Bella, but Katie trained down perfect, and we can't wait to see what's in store. I'd like to win all of the big races, and we are staked to just about all of them. Now, we have to start picking our spots."

A PERFECT 10: Betting on the 13-race card totaled $3,030,080, the 10th time this year in 35 programs that wagering went past the $3-million mark at The Big M. The Late 50-cent Pick 4 saw vigorous action, as $100,559 was pushed through the windows.

--quote/handle info courtesy of the Meadowlands--