Our Man Luke edges Speaking in Sunny Ridge

Trainer Luis Carvajal bookended the $86,700 Sunny Ridge Handicap for older New Jersey-breds on Sunday at Monmouth Park. Prendimi, the 7-2 third choice, dueled and faded to a distant last of seven, but Our Man Luke, a 16-1 shot, battled bravely along the inside and beat a game Speaking by a neck.

Royal Urn, the 9-5 favorite, was given a compromising four-wide trip in this two-turn dirt race, run over a sloppy track, and faded to third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths, after looming at the top of the homestretch.

Our Man Luke was claimed for $12,500 from trainer Jamie Ness last fall after Ness had claimed the horse from Carvajal the race prior. Our Man Luke spent the winter at Parx Racing, making three starts for trainer Gustavo Chacon before returning to Carvajal’s barn in advance of the Sunny Ridge. Our Man Luke finished ninth in his most recent start, the John J. Reilly last month at Monmouth, but Sunday’s two-turn race evidently suited him much better than that sprint.

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“I have to be honest, I didn’t see this coming,” Carvajal said.

Our Man Luke stumbled just after the start and raced from fifth place, coming up the rail under Jeremy Laprida to engage Speaking, who pressed the pace and put away Royal Urn but could not quite contain the winner.

Our Man Luke ran one mile over a sloppy track in 1:40.18 and paid $34.80. Owned by G. J. Stables, his breeder, Our Man Luke is a 5-year-old gelding by Redeemed out of Cigno d’Oro, by Tour d’Or.