Stormy Lucy foils Serendipity in Santa Barbara

Meanwhile, Miss Serendipity swept to the front and threatened to put the race

away. But Stormy Lucy went after the Argentinean Group 1 winner and ran her down

by a neck in a climactic finish. After speeding 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 1:58

3/5, the favorite returned $5.40 to win.

"I told you, I'm trying not to screw it up," said Moger, who just took over

as trainer from Frank Lucarelli. "The horse was ready-made when I got her.

Rafael rode the same race as he did winning the Santa Ana. Last time he came

inside; this time he went around. I was a little worried when he was that wide,

but I guess he knew what he had."

"She was much better today," Bejarano said. "Her last race, she was rank when

she was behind horses, but today she relaxed. She and I were really comfortable

the whole way, all the way to the three-eighths pole. So, I was confident to

come around and let her go. I knew how much horse I had at the three-eighths and

I knew she was going to show me a big kick. I just wanted to make sure I was

clear and away from any trouble."

Miss Serendipity's connections were happy with her near-miss, the closest

she's come to victory in her four U.S. starts.

"She ran her eyeballs out," said Dan Landers, assistant to trainer Ron

McAnally. "I think she's getting more used to our racing."

"She got outkicked late," jockey Brice Blanc said, "but she did everything

perfect. She was better today, she relaxed a lot and she quickened a lot more,

too. She was a little more settled early on and the distance definitely didn't

hurt us. Stormy Lucy just outkicked us; my mare ran her heart out. She's still

just starting (in the United States); as soon as she gets adapted to the

American way I think she'll have a bright future."

There was a gap of 4 1/4 lengths back to Changethechannel in third.

Champagneandcaviar checked in fourth, trailed by Phonybooksnrecords, Floral

Romance, Topic and Customer Base.

Stormy Lucy now sports a mark of 22-7-2-3, $482,200. The daughter of Stormy

Atlantic went to Frank L. Gaunt for $24,000 as a Barretts May two-year-old in

training, and spent her career under the tutelage of Lucarelli. As a

three-year-old in 2012, she captured the Golden Poppy at Golden Gate Fields and

placed in the Honeymoon Handicap, Del Mar Oaks and Rodeo Drive. She made an

ambitious tilt at the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, winding up last of 11,

and accordingly got class relief in 2013.

Competing in the name of Erica Gaunt last year, Stormy Lucy romped by four

lengths in the October 19 Miss America back at Golden Gate, and was just denied

by Customer Base in the December 29 Robert J. Frankel at Santa Anita. She was a

troubled fifth in the February 17 Buena Vista before finally recording a Grade 2

win in the Santa Ana, her finale for her original connections.

Moger said Stormy Lucy would be considered for the Grade 1, $300,000 Gamely

Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 26.

Bred in Kentucky by Mercedes Stable LLC, Stormy Lucy is the only stakes

winner out of the Dixieland Band mare Here Comes Lucinda, who is a half-sister

to Grade 3 heroine Moonwalk, Grade 2-placed stakes victress Thatswhatimean and

Grade 2 runner-up Atswhatimtalknbout. The latter was a memorable fourth, beaten

just two lengths, in the 2003 Kentucky Derby in what turned out to be his final

start.

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