Prince Lucky romps in Hal's Hope

HALLANDALE BEACH, FLA. – Prince Lucky returned from an 8 1/2-month layoff to register an impressive six-length victory over his more fancied stablemate Copper Town to lead a one-two finish for trainer Todd Pletcher in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream Park.

Idle since winning the Easy Goer at Belmont Park on June 9, Prince Lucky sat a perfect trip under John Velazquez in the one-mile Hal’s Hope. Prince Lucky stalked early leaders Quip and Copper Town, who rushed to contest the pace after stumbling at the start, readily overtook his barn mate upon settling into the stretch, and steadily increased his advantage to the end.

Copper Town, favored throughout much of the wagering before closing as the 2-1 second choice, disposed of Quip after six furlongs but was immediately engaged by the winner approaching the quarter pole and proved no match down the lane. Quip finished another 1 1/4 lengths farther back while making his first start since the 2018 Preakness.

Breaking Lucky, the 9-5 favorite, raced well placed behind the early leaders but retired after five furlongs and was eased to the wire, finishing last in a field of nine older horses.

Prince Lucky is a 4-year-old homebred son of Corinthian owned by Daniel McConnell. He completed a mile over the fast track in 1:34.84 and returned $17.60 for his fifth win in nine career starts.

“I thought he was training really well and we felt we’d run here rather than look for an allowance race, like we did with Noble Indy and found X Y Jet in there,” Pletcher said with a chuckle. “We felt like the distance suited him well, it was a really favorable post position for him, and I was just happy to see him come back strong off the layoff. Hopefully there will be bigger and better things to come.”

Pletcher lamented the fact Copper Town did not break well for a second straight start here this winter.

“Again, Copper Town didn’t get away real clean, he kind of bobbled at the start, recovered, put himself in a good position but was just second-best on the day,” said Pletcher.

Pletcher said he’d likely look at the Gulfstream Park Mile, a Grade 2 event on the March 30 Florida Derby undercard, for Prince Lucky’s next start.

Play On, Yes I Am Free account for turf stakes

Louisiana invader Play On set the pace and never looked back en route to a 2 1/2-length victory over Catch a Thrill in the $75,000 Melody of Colors for 3-year-old fillies. Play On, a daughter of Country Day, registered her third straight victory for her breeder Klein Racing and trainer Brad Cox. She was ridden to victory by Shaun Bridgmohan and returned $8.40.

Play On’s final time of 55.85 seconds for the five furlongs on turf was .36 faster than Yes I Am Free covered the same distance in the $75,000 Texas Glitter Stakes for 3-year-olds later on the card.

Beechwood Ella, the 2-1 favorite, finished seventh while never a factor.

Yes I Am Free remained perfect in two starts after registering a half-length length decision over the fast-closing Jackson in the Texas Glitter. The pace-pressing Gladiator King finished third.

Yes I Am Free is a homebred son of Uncaptured trained by Mark Casse for owner Gary Barber. A winner of his only previous start in similarly game fashion, Yes I Am Free paid $6.40 as the second choice in a field of nine 3-year-old colts and geldings. The winner completed five furlongs in 56.21 seconds under Irad Ortiz Jr.