Lucida, Elm Park Win BC Stakes at Newmarket
Description:
Two-year-olds Lucida and Elm Park were impressive winners of group II races Sept. 26-27 at Newmarket, qualifying for starts at the Breeders' Cup World Championships next month at Santa Anita Park.
Qatar Racing and Kingsclere Racing Club's supplemental entry Elm Park has three consecutive victories and a group stakes breakthrough after taking the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Eng-II) Sept. 27.
The son of Phoenix Reach was ridden to a one-length triumph by Andrea Atzeni, who will be Qatar Racing's rider of first call next year. The colt stumbled out of the gate but quickly righted himself before Atzeni positioned him midfield.
Advancing into contention with a quarter mile to run, he steadily reeled in pacesetter Salateen to lead in the final 100 yards, and comfortably held back runner-up Nafaqa.
Final time for one mile on good to firm turf was 1:37.10.
"He's picked up well and he was always going to get there," Atzeni told Racing Post. "They went a good gallop and started racing a long way out, but he traveled nicely."
Elm Park, the 11-4 favorite trained by Andrew Balding, earned a fees-paid automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) Oct. 31. He has a 3-0-1 career line from four starts that include wins in the E.B.F. Stallions Stonehenge Stakes Aug. 29 at Salisbury and a maiden win two weeks earlier at Newbury.
Bred in Great Britain by Kingsclere Stud, Elm Park is out of the Dashing Blade mare Brora.
Lucida, a Godolphin filly trained by Jim Bolger, earned a fees-paid automatic berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT), also Oct. 31, after capturing the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes (Eng-II) Friday.
Ridden by Kevin Manning, Lucida overhauled runner-up Fadhayyil in the final 100 yards and scooted clear to a one-length triumph. Her victory as the even-money favorite follows her second to Cursory Glance in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I) Sept. 14 at the Curragh.
Lucida was reserved in seventh behind pacesetter What Say You and advanced to sixth at the halfway point. Fourth a quarter-mile out, she rallied smartly with a furlong to run before catching Fadhayyil in the closing stages.
Lucida, a Darley-bred daughter of Shamardal—Lura, by Street Cry , covered seven furlongs in 1:22.82. She has a 2-2-0 record from four career starts. Lura is a half sister to U.S. turf champion and Central Kentucky sire English Channel.