Truly Lucky stretching out again at Sam Houston

Truly Lucky was fourth to a Breeders' Cup champion in her last start, which should make her a top contender Saturday night in the $50,000 Sam Houston Distaff. But her trainer, Karl Broberg, has some concerns about her getting the race's 1 1/16-mile distance, as she has been sprinting of late.

"She's done it before, so we're rolling the dice," said Broberg, who will also saddle the coupled Jill Marie.

Truly Lucky is part an eight-horse field of fillies and mares that includes Fair Grounds shipper Bella Medaglia, who was sixth to multiple stakes winner Ravi's Song last out in the $59,000 Pelleteri on Feb. 12. Afleet Deceit invades from Oaklawn, where she was fifth in last month's $75,000 Pippin in her first start since September.
Truly Lucky took on males in her most recent start, and hooked Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Chamberlain Bridge in the $75,000 Rail Splitter at Sam Houston. She finished fourth in the five-furlong turf race, beaten three lengths after "jumping in the air" at the start, noted Broberg. The trouble was notable for Truly Lucky, a front-runner who had wired the field one start earlier in the $50,000 Yellow Rose at six furlongs at Sam Houston.

Truly Lucky was making her first start for Broberg in the Yellow Rose, after being claimed for $40,000 at Fair Grounds. He noted she is a full sister to General Charley, a two-turn stakes winner who has won 17 of 57 starts and $543,160.

Quincy Hamilton has the mount on Truly Lucky, who has a chance to steal away in the Sam Houston Distaff.

◗ Sam Houston has increased purses by $1,000 a race for the remainder of the meet, which runs through March 7. The purses were boosted beginning with the Friday program. The 6.5 percent increase is the result of an upswing in handle and a Feb. 4 cancellation because of inclement weather.

"Our handle has surpassed even our most optimistic projections for the 27-day Thoroughbred meet," said Andrea Young, president of Sam Houston.