Lucky Folie Steals the Show in Desi Arnaz

Two-time grade II winner Pretty N Cool was the headliner entering the $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes Nov. 15 at Del Mar, but another hot prospect stole the show.



Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred third-time starter Lucky Folie shot to the lead under jockey Gary Stevens, set blazing fractions, and would not relent in the seven-furlong test.



The Richard Mandella trainee held a five-length advantage after setting fractions of :22.48 and :44.99 through a half-mile, then hit six furlongs in 1:10.44 as her advantage dwindled and hit the wire at 1:23.86.

"I didn't think she'd be that quick (early), coming out of a mile race," Mandella said. "She's so quiet, I didn't think she'd be that aggressive, but she sure was and it turned out pretty good."



Pretty N Cool, winner of the Matron (gr. II) at Belmont Park last time out for trainer Bob Baffert, made a move in the turn after racing in third early, but tired in the stretch to finish last in the five-filly field at odds of 3-5. Baffert stablemate Treasuring finished a game second, a half-length back, after stalking the early pace. Street Fancy rallied from last to finish third, a nose back.

"She's super quick. She fooled me," Stevens said. "I thought I had it under control early... I knew those two fillies outside me were fast, but I couldn't hear them. Then when we got to the quarter pole, I thought I was going to be out of horse. I thought they were going to run by me. But she heard those other two coming up and her ears went up and she came on again. I can fix this for next time. She's a good one."



The winner paid $6.40, $4.60, and $6 across the board. Treasuring brought $8.20 and $10.80, and Street Fancy delivered $15.80 to show. Show prices were elevated due to a $62,483 chunk (of the $83,870 pool) wagered on Pretty N Cool.

"She came back OK, I think," said Pretty N Cool's jockey, Martin Garcia. "She just didn't have it today."



Lucky Folie, a Distorted Humor   filly, came in second last time out in the Surfer Girl Stakes (but was disqualified to third) at a mile over the Santa Anita Park turf Oct. 10, but won her debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the Del Mar dirt Sept. 6.



Bred in Kentucky, out of the stakes-winning Unbridled's Song mare Lucky Copy, Lucky Folie has $114,000 in earnings from her three starts.