Lucrezia Much the Best in Suncoast Stakes
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Photo: SV Photography
Lucrezia wins the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Lucrezia put on a show and picked up 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, where she was much the best in the $100,000 Suncoast Stakes.
Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson's 3-year-old Into Mischief filly broke alertly from post 1 under Daniel Centeno and retained her inside position to track the pace set by Two Sixty through a :23.72 opening quarter, but Centeno soon shifted her out to draw on even terms with the leader through a half in :47.81. Lucrezia put away that rival and found herself at the head of the nine-horse field while running three-quarters in 1:11.74, then struck the top of the stretch the one to beat.
The bay filly was alone through a 1:37.48 mile, and steadily widened her advantage under firm encouragement en route to a five-length victory. The final time for the mile and 40-yard test was 1:39.99 on a fast track. Turtle Trax was second, and Motu finished three-quarters of a length back in third.
"She broke sharp today and she was asked going into the first turn," Centeno said. "At the three-eighths pole, when everyone came to me, she switched leads and I asked her a little bit and she exploded. I didn't look back. When I looked at the screen she was opened up. She did everything perfect."
Lucrezia came in to the Suncoast off a 1 3/4-length win in the Dec. 7 Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay.
"There was a question mark about her ability to go a little farther than what she had before, but today she showed she could do it," trainer Arnaud Delacour said. "Obviously now we have a lot of options, and it's a fun place to be. One race at a time. We're very proud of her. The owners are also the breeders, so it's great for them."
Lucrezia's connections accept the trophy for the Suncoast Stakes
Bred in Kentucky by Edward A. Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, and Krista Seltzer out of the grade 3-winning Rahy mare Verdana Bold, Lucrezia improved her record to three wins and a second from five starts, with earnings of $150,800. The victory ranked her 11th on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard.
Lucrezia is the seventh foal out of her dam, who also produced 2017 Sunland Park Oaks winner Ghalia and listed stakes-placed contender Copperplate. The mare has a Medaglia d'Oro 2-year-old colt named Filigree and a yearling Quality Road filly. She was bred back to Into Mischief for 2020.