Lucy N Ethel Cruises in Old Hat

Lucy N Ethel remained unbeaten while making her stakes debut Jan. 2 with an impressive score against five newly turned 3-year-old fillies in the Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.

The Pennsylvania-bred daughter of During   got the six-furlong trip in 1:10.03 as the odds-on choice.

My Dear Venezuela was 3 3/4 lengths back in second with second-choice Ballet Diva finishing another 2 1/2 lengths back in third. She was followed by Dad's Kiddo, Catira Rock, and Little Caton.



Lucy N Ethel shipped to Gulfstream from Parx Racing where she was two-for-two for trainer Ramon Preciado and rider Joshua Navarro. The dark bay or brown filly out of the Silver Ghost mare Kid Silver, is a homebred for J A G Racing and Jettany Thoroughbreds.



"I've been getting on her since she started training," Navarro said. "She's improving; she just keeps getting better. Parx was a deeper track and we thought she'd do better here because this track is so fast."



And fast it was for the Old Hat. Lucy N Ethel broke well from post 5 and was hustled to the lead by Navarro. She was comfortable through an opening quarter mile in :22.68 while being tracked by My Dear Venezuela. Ballet Diva broke well from the rail  but was shuffled back 100 yards out of the gate, running next to last as the field went into the bend. Coming out of the turn Navarro still had not asked the winner as My Dear Venezuela came to her flank and Ballet Diva made headway to get into contention.



After a half in :45.59, Lucy and Ethyl separated herself from the cast and was a clear leader after five furlongs in :57.34. Her final eighth was run in :12.69.

"She ran how we expected. I think the next time she's going to be even better," Preciado said. "She could be better than we thought. At the beginning we thought she was a nice filly. Her first race, she impressed up a little bit, but in her second race, she really exploded. This race she was better, and the next time she's going to be better."



Lucy N Ethel paid $3.80, $3, and $2.10. My Dear Venezuela paid $11 and $4.40 while Ballet Diva returned $2.60. The $2 exacta, 5-4, returned $35.20.



Kid Silver made only one start, a winning one May 13, 2005 at Charles Town Races, winning a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight by 6 3/4 lengths. Lucy N Ethel is a full sister to stakes winner Jake N Elwood (also owned by J A G Racing and Jettany Thoroughbred) and is a half sister to Hey Kiddo, a stakes winner at Parx and stakes-placed against New York Stallion Series company at Aqueduct. Kid Silver is in foal to Two Step Salsa  .



During, the sire of five stakes winners, stands at O'Sullivan Farms near Charles Town, W.Va.

 

Lucy N Ethel will be pointed toward the Jan. 30 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs at Gulfstream.