Xtra Luck confirms affinity for long distance in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the first couple years of his career, Xtra Luck was anything but lucky. Long stuck in the first-level allowance ranks, he could never seem to break through with an allowance win, much less something bigger.

Then came “Xtra” distance and his career turned around. He won a 1 1/8-mile allowance on grass at Fair Grounds on March 28, and then after a runner-up finish in a 1 1/2-mile second-level turf allowance at Keeneland on April 23, Xtra Luck scored the biggest win of his career Saturday in taking the Grade 3, $100,000 Louisville Handicap going 1 1/2 miles on the Churchill Downs grass.

Well positioned by regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., Xtra Lucky allowed Majestic Harbor to go out and set a fast half-mile in 48.73 seconds while Hernandez rated his mount a couple lengths off the pace in a comfortable striking position. Then as Majestic Harbor began to tire with splits of 1:14.23 and 1:40.34, Xtra Luck was sitting ready to get first run on the closers.

Xtra Luck surged to the lead midway on the last of three turns, and outkicked his rivals down the stretch to score a 1 1/2-length victory over For Greater Glory.

“When they came to us at the head of the lane, he went on and finished up the job for us,” said Hernandez.

Golden Soul rallied from last to grab third, edging favored Patrioticandproud, who after moving with the winner on the turn ultimately weakened to be fourth.

The winner, a 4-year-old gelding by Exchange Rate owned by Michele and Cliff Love and trained by Neil Howard, ran the distance on a firm turf course in 2:28.44. He paid $11.60.

Howard said Xtra Luck’s even-paced galloping style of running has proven one of the keys to his form turnaround going extended distances.

“It’s easy to say this now, but I’m sure it helps him in races like this,” Howard said.

Further working in his favor Saturday was that the Louisville Handicap lacked a standout turf marathoner. With the top-weighted horses bypassing the race, all nine entrants were weighted by Churchill racing secretary Ben Huffman between 116 and 113 pounds.. With few jockeys capable of making such light assignments, six riders in the nine-horse field rode over their horses’ assigned weights.

Howard said he would likely to keep Xtra Luck in long-distance turf races, mentioning Arlington and Kentucky Downs as tracks where he might run him down the road. Such a schedule could make a race like the Grade 3, $100,000 Stars and Stripes at Arlington on July 11 a viable next-race option.