Lukes Alley, Contreras Stay Hot in Autumn

Favored Lukes Alley posted his third consecutive win and fourth in five starts when rallying from last to capture the $198,407 Autumn Stakes (Can-II)  by a neck Nov. 9 at Woodbine.



Eugene Melnyk's Ontario homebred son of Flower Alley   inched ahead of War Correspondent in the final yards to score at odds of 6-5 with Luis Contreras aboard. The win was the fourth of five on the Sunday card for Contreras, who moved ahead of Patrick Husbands, 151-150, in their tight battle for the Woodbine riding title.



Josie Carroll trains the 4-year-old colt Lukes Alley, who won the Durham Cup (Can-III) for his first stakes tally Oct. 4. Carroll won the Autumn for the second time in three years, following James Street in 2012.



Lukes Alley completed the 1 1/16-mile distance over Woodbine's Polytrack in 1:43.18 and now has won five of seven career starts over the surface with one second. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' War Correspondent, shipping in from Belmont Park for trainer Christophe Clement, was a tough second. Pacesetter Midnight Aria, the 2013 Queen's Plate winner, finished a length farther back in third after a game try.



Just six contested the Autumn, with most of the wagering landing on Lukes Alley and War Correspondent, sent off at 2-1. Midnight Aria, making his third start since winning the Queen's Plate 16 months earlier, set out for the early lead with Jesse Campbell aboard, with War Correspsondent and Lukes Alley shuffled to the back.



They raced in a compact group, however, as Midnight Aria skipped along through soft quarter mile fractions of :24.73, :49.15, and 1:13.20 while tracked by Are You Kidding Me and defending Autumn winner Alpha Bettor.



Midnight Aria opened up a clear advantage at the top of the lane but War Correspondent, after a slow start, made his charge at the leader after rounding the final turn four wide. Midnight Aria led by a length at the furlong mark, but War Correspondent rallied to take over in deep stretch. However, Lukes Alley, making a determined bid on the outside under right-handed urging from Contreras, drew even 70 yards out and prevailed in the drive.



"I wanted to stay close and not let my horse do too much at the end, but I was a little bit stuck in the last turn and had to wait to angle outside," said Contreras after winning the Autumn for the first time. "I knew my horse was going to give everything he had."



Carroll admitted to being a little concerned as the field approached the final turn.



"Our game plan was to sit close and come outside, but when he got shuffled it was real disconcerting. He's just a good horse, and good horses find a way to overcome problems," she said.



Alpha Bettor, Eirigh, and Are You Kidding Me completed the order.



Carrying co-top weight of 121 pounds, Lukes Alley paid $4.40, $2.50, and $2.10, keying a chalky $10.50 exacta. War Correspondent, who won his United States debut by four lengths in allowance company at Monmouth Park after beginning his career in France, returned $3 and $2.80. Midnight Aria paid $3.20 to show.



Lukes Alley is the first of four named foals out of Melnyk's stakes-winning A.P Indy mare Vaulcluse, and is the dam's first stakes winner.

Unraced at 2, Lukes Alley won for the sixth time in nine lifetime starts and extended his earnings to $406,179.