Got Lucky romps in Molly Pitcher

Got Lucky easily drew off to earn her first stakes victory in the Molly Pitcher (Bill Denver/Equi-Photo) Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc. and Philip J. Steinberg’s homebred Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) asserted her class for a dominating 5 1/2-length victory on Friday in Monmouth Park’s $163,500 Molly Pitcher S. (G3). Jockey Paco Lopez allowed the dark bay filly to settle into a ground-saving trip on the inside as 33-1 shot J’s Two Step Halo (Two Step Salsa) set a measured pace of :24 2/5, :49 2/5 and 1:14 2/5 just in front. Mary n’ Eileen (Indy King) was tracking just off the leader’s flank in second. Turning for home, Got Lucky angled out a bit and split those two runners as Mary n’ Eileen began backing up. The Todd Pletcher-trained four-year-old easily grabbed command and drew away to finish 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:44. Sent off the 1-5 favorite, she paid $2.60 for this return to the winner’s circle. Stiffed (Stephen Got Even), who beat Got Lucky by a half-length in the Monmouth Beach S. last out on May 24, came running from last to take second, 4 1/4 lengths up on J’s Two Step Halo. Lucky Liberty (Proud Citizen), the 50-1 longest shot in the field, rounded out the top four just a head in front of Oasis at Midnight (Midnight Lute). Mary n’ Eileen faded to last and Shayjolie (Indian Charlie) was scratched.

Got Lucky earned her first stakes victory in this spot, adding it to a
13-4-5-0 resume that also includes placings in the Demoiselle S. (G2), Gazelle
S. (G2), Rachel Alexandra S. (G3) and the aforementioned Monmouth Beach S. Thus
far the Kentucky-bred miss has banked $451,340 lifetime.

“I knew Stiffed would be coming to the outside again,” Lopez said. “This time
the pace was a little easier for us. We were able to sit comfortably just off
the pace along the backstretch. She wanted to go a little early, but I had to
hold her back. Once we were in the clear I let her go, she sprinted away
perfectly.”

Got Lucky is the only registered stakes winner out of Malka (Deputy
Minister), who is herself out of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Get Lucky (Mr.
Prospector).

Malka counts among her half-siblings Grade 1-winning sire Girolamo (A.P.
Indy) and Grade 2 queen Daydreaming (A.P. Indy) as well as the dams of 2010
Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) and Grade 1-winning
millionaire Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat). Daydreaming is herself the dam of Grade
1-scoring millionaire Imagining (Giant’s Causeway).

Got Lucky’s third dam is Grade 1 vixen Dance Number (Northern Dancer), who
would go on in the breeding shed to produce champion Rhythm, a full brother to
Get Lucky. Her fourth dam is champion and blue-hen mare Numbered Account (Buckpasser),
and this stellar female family also includes dual Grade 1 victor and leading
sire Private Account (Damascus) as well as Group 2-placed listed winner and sire
Mutakddim (Seeking the Gold).

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