Better Lucky is just that in winning Shine Again Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Better Lucky proved to be the luckiest of four Monday at Saratoga with a come from behind victory over a small but elite field in the $100,000 Shine Again Stakes.

Four older females, including Eclipse Award winner My Miss Aurelia, left the gate in the seven-furlong stakes. Former Delaware Oaks winner Grace Hall was the 6-5 favorite with My Miss Aurelia at 3-2, Bridgehampton 7-2 and Better Lucky the 5-1 longshot leaving from the outside post. My Miss Aurelia, the 2011 champion 2-year-old filly, was making her first start in 16 months.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Better Lucky trailed the field through the early going. Bridgehampton set the pace followed closely by Grace Hall and My Miss Aurelia.

At the top of stretch the first three runners were across the track with Better Lucky beginning her rally. Approaching the furlong pole Grace Hall was between Bridgehampton and My Miss Aurelia, and was jostled by those two and forced to move to the middle of the track.

Better Lucky, trained by Tom Albertrani for Godolphin Racing, came charging down the stretch to catch the top three yards before the finish. She was able to put her head on the wire first just in front of Grace Hall with My Miss Aurelia third and Bridgehampton last.

The time for the seven-furlong Shine Again was 1:22.56 on a fast track.

Scratched from the race were Toasting and Angel's Glory.

Better Lucky, making just her third start of the year, garnered $60,000 for the win. The daughter of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, has six wins, three seconds and five thirds from 17 career starts for $993,950, most coming in turf events.

Rarely going beyond a mile, Better Lucky was second in the seven-furlong Madison Stakes April 12 on Keeneland's synthetic track and eighth in the one- mile Just a Game, a race she finished second last year, on Belmont Park's turf course on Belmont Stakes Day.

Better Lucky returned $12.20 and $3.90, and Grace Hall paid $2.40 for place. There was no show wagering.