Augustin Stable’s Lucky Lindy powered to an impressive score in Sunday’s $177,900 Grade 3 Ontario Derby, at Woodbine.
Trained by Mark Frostad and ridden by Robby Albarado, the lightly-raced son of Harlan’s Holiday-Celebrate settled into a perfect stalking position in the 1 1/8-mile ‘Poly’ stake and responded with a powerful kick at the top of the lane for a stylish first added-money score.
Decision Day was sent to the early lead by Jesse Campbell, posting the opening quarter in :25.38 with Lucky Lindy, Firespike and Ethical Funds stalking comfortably. Ethical Funds, under Emile Ramsammy, was sent after the front-runner through the opening turn and pressed the pace to the half in :50.08.
Lucky Lindy, rating from third under Albarado down the back straight, was urged into action through the final turn as Firespike and Breaking Lucky also launched menacing runs. Billy’s Star, racing from the back of the pack, made his best run late in the turn but there was no reeling in an energetic Lucky Lindy who sped through the wire a 3 3/4-length winner. Billy’s Star, the 7-5 favourite, came on strong to earn place by 1 ¼-lengths over Breaking Lucky. Lucky Lindy covered 1 1/8-miles in 1:50.64.
Albarado, who guided Lucky Lindy to a second-place effort in the Toronto Cup and a third-place run in the Breeders’ Stakes, third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, earlier this summer, enjoyed a good stalking trip behind the moderate pace.
“I thought they’d go pretty slow up front and they did. When the one horse (Ethical Funds) ran up on the inside to go with Josie Carroll’s horse (Decision Day) it helped me sit there a little longer,” said Albarado.
Frostad is pleased with the development of the well-related Lucky Lindy, who is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Occasional View.
“It was only his fifth start,” said Frostad. “He had some two-year-old issues, so it took him a little longer (to get to the races). He’s coming along beautifully and I think his best racing days are ahead of him.”
Lucky Lindy, bred in Ontario by owner George Strawbridge, Jr., banked $108,000 in victory, while improving his record to 2-2-1 from six starts.
He paid $7.70, $3.50 and $2.60, combining with Billy’s Star ($3.30, $2.30) for a $26.20 (2-7) exactor. A 2-7-5 triactor (Breaking Lucky, $3.20 to show) was worth $121.80, while a $1 Superfecta [2-7-5-4 (Beat Goes On)] came back $227.10. Kingsport was scratched.
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