Trust N Luck wins by 11

MIAMI - Trainer Ralph Ziadie predicted "they would not beat" Trust N Luck if the colt made the lead in the $100,000, 1 1/16-mile What a Pleasure Stakes. Ziadie was good to his word as Trust N Luck led throughout en route to a smashing 11-length victory in the final stakes race for 2-year-olds at Calder this season.

The winner's final time of 1:44.07 shattered the stakes record of 1:45.20 set by 1990 Kentucky Derby winner and 3-year-old champion Unbridled in 1989.

Trust N Luck easily outsprinted Seek Gold to the early lead under regular rider Cornelio Velasquez, set honest fractions of 23.77 seconds and 47.85 while well in hand, opened a commanding advantage once roused in early stretch, and increased his lead while kept under steady urging to the end.

Patriotic Flame raced wide and outfinished 9-5 favorite Super Frolic by three-quarters of a length to be second. They were followed by White Cat, Seek Gold, R. Associate, and Fort Smith.

Trust N Luck, who used similar front-running tactics for an easy win in the In Reality Stakes, the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes, paid $7.20

"His game is going long and around two turns. When he finished second to Super Frolic in the Foolish Pleasure Stakes he really needed a race," said Ziadie, who trains Trust N Luck for E. Paul Robsham.

Ziadie said Trust N Luck will now be pointed for the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes and Florida Derby this winter at Gulfstream Park.

Dakota Light rallies in Three Ring

Earlier in the day, Dakota Light earned her first stakes victory by rallying to a three-quarter-length win over Never Fail in the $100,000 Three Ring Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Dakota Light, who proved no match for division leader Ivanavinalot in her two previous starts around two turns, rallied from near the back of the pack. She endured a bumping match with 7-5 favorite Bird Town before withstanding Never Fail's final surge.

Never Fail angled out to the middle of the track turning for home and finished best of all to be second.

Bird Town was well placed early, engaged Dakota Light at the top of the stretch, bumped her several times between the eighth and sixteenth poles, and succumbed near the end.

Lady Stars, who set the pace; Nonour, Bolaro, Kathy Lee G., and Makin Heat rounded out the order of finish.

Dakota Light, a daughter of Colony Light and Dolly's Back, paid $12. She is owned by J D Farms and trained by David Brownlee. Her winning time of 1:47.54 was more than three seconds slower than Trust N Luck's time over the same distance in the What a Pleasure.

"She's much improved since chasing Ivanavinalot, and growing up now," said Brownlee.