Got Lucky and Paco Lopez were clearly best in the G3 Molly Pitcher. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
From a Monmouth Park release
P.J. Steinberg & Hill ‘N’ Dale Equine’s Got Lucky sat just off the pace early before grabbing command at the top of the stretch and drawing clear to a daylight score in the Grade 3, $150,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park on Friday afternoon.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Got Lucky stepped the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:44 flat and paid $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10 as the odds-on choice in the field of six fillies and mares. Stiffed, who upset Got Lucky last out in the Monmouth Beach Stakes on May 24, came with her late rally, but could not get close to the winner, finishing 5 ½ lengths back. The runner-up completed the $4.40 exacta and paid $2.80 and $2.40. It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to pacesetter J’s Two Step Halo, who paid $5 to show.
“I knew Stiffed would be coming to the outside again,” said winning jockey Paco Lopez. “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.”
A 4-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy from the Deputy Minister mare Malka, Got Lucky was bred in Kentucky by her owners. She now sports a lifetime record of 4-5-0 from 13 starts, good for earnings of $451,340.
