Trust N Luck does it easily

MIAMI - Trust N Luck, who had no luck in his three previous starts, took advantage of a fast, speed-favoring track and an easy lead to score a convincing 4 3/4-length triumph over The Name's Bond and 12 other 2-year-old colts and geldings in Calder's $400,000 , the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes. The victory gave jockey Cornelio Velasquez his fourth stakes winner on the card following earlier wins aboard Cellars Shiraz in the Calder Oaks, Pay the Preacher in the Spend a Buck Handicap, and Castlebrook in the Shocker T. Handicap.

Lawbook, the 6-5 favorite, was shuffled back to midpack after the opening half-mile and never threatened, finishing sixth and failing in his quest to sweep all three divisions of the stallion series.

Trust N Luck had been the beaten favorite in each of his last three tries, including the seven-furlong Affirmed Stakes when he wheeled and lost his rider shortly after the start.

Trainer Ralph Ziadie never lost confidence in his colt. "He got into a terrible speed duel in the first round of the series, lost his rider in the second one, and came up a little short when I stretched him out around two turns the last time," said Ziadie. "But I had no doubt in my mind he was a very good horse and was confident he would run extremely well today. The fact the racetrack was speed biased probably helped, but I think he would have won today no matter the condition of the track."

Trust N Luck sprinted right to the lead, shook off Supah Blitz coming out of the final turn, opened a commanding advantage in midstretch, and was not threatened after that. The Name's Bond raced in striking position and continued on well to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Patriotic Flame.

Trust N Luck returned $8.20 as the second choice after covering 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:46.52.

Trust N Luck is eligible for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile but Ziadie was noncommittal following the race.

"I'll have to discuss it with the owner first," said Ziadie. "If he says go and we can get in, we'll go."

"I expected him to be closer than that," said Lawbook's owner-trainer Thomas Heard Jr. "I didn't think he would be that far back."