So Lucky returns to sprint for 3-year-old debut

Substantial speed will be on display when So Lucky makes his first start as a 3-year-old at Emerald Downs on Sunday.

Trained by Howard Belvoir, So Lucky romped in four sprints, three of them stakes, before he was the runner-up in his first route attempt in the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity. He will be the one to catch in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance that drew five horses and goes as race 3 on a 10-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

Belvoir was pleased with So Lucky’s five-furlong move in 59.60 seconds on March 31 and likes the way he is coming into the race.

“Because of the weather, anybody training here is behind,” Belvoir said. “But I had him up at Dunbar Ranch, where we jogged him for 21 days before we brought him to the track. He’s been training very well.”

The only time So Lucky saw a horse’s tail in a race was in the 1 1/16-mile Gottstein. He held a clear lead at the six-furlong mark but tired noticeably in the stretch and ended up six lengths behind the filly Blazinbeauty at the wire.

With Rocco Bowen riding, he won his first four sprints by a combined 21 3/4 lengths. Prior to the Gottstein, he romped by nine lengths over Keller’s Gold in the $50,000 Washington Cup 2-year-old race. Keller’s Gold is also entered for Sunday.

So Lucky drew post 2, with Bowen retaining the mount.

The main threat is Atta Boy Bear.

Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Atta Boy Bear is the only horse in the field who has been racing this year, and he is coming off a sharp win in a maiden special weight race going six furlongs at Golden Gate Fields on March 26.

KEY CONTENDERS

So Lucky, by Coast Guard
Last 3 Beyers: 54-79-79

◗ He dominated his rivals in all of his sprints, has been working like he’s ready for a big effort coming off the bench, and should be tough to catch if he breaks as sharply as he normally does.

Atta Boy Bear, by Atta Boy Roy
Last 3 Beyers: 68-72-65

◗ Second in his first three starts, he won like a 2-5 favorite should in a strong performance on Tapeta at Golden Gate. He also has good speed, but he couldn’t keep up with So Lucky when they debuted in a maiden special weight race last July. With three races this year, he should have a fitness edge, however.

Monydontspenitself, by Street Boss
Beyer: 56

He beat subsequent stakes winner Keller’s Gold in his only start as a juvenile, and he’s been training forwardly for trainer Kay Cooper.