February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Irish-bred daughter of Danehill out of Streetcar had only three rivals to outrun, two of which were also native to Irish soil. Kept about two lengths off the pace by jockey John Velazquez, Luas Lane engaged My Typhoon
turning for home and drew off inside the eighth pole to win by a length and a half. Asi Siempre, the only non-Irish filly in the race, ran second, followed by My Typhoon and Insan Mala in that order.
Luas Lane ran the nine furlongs in 1:45.3, a record for the race, which was being contested for the 27th time. The second choice in the mutuels, the winner paid $5.90 to win.
Luas Lane’s three previous victories all came in Ireland – two at Cork and one, in August, at Gowran Park. In May, she was third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh, less than a length behind the victor, Saoire.
“She definitely has improved,” said Wachman. “It’s great to come here and win a race. We’ll see about the Breeders’ Cup [at Belmont on Oct. 29]. I’ll have to talk to the owners and see what they want to do. I had the
Keeneland race [QE II Challenge Cup on Oct. 15] in my mind and, if that’s the case, we might leave her here.”
Punters who missed cashing an Irish exacta in the Garden City fared no better one race later, when King’s Drama and Relaxed Gesture ran second and third, respectively, in the $500,000 Man o’War. Those two battled for the lead down the length of the stretch, only to be passed on the outside by the rallying Better Talk Now, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf. Look for
these three to renew their rivalry in this year’s renewal of that race on Oct. 29.
SARATOGA SMILES
There was no end to the smiles emanating from Irish eyes at Saratoga as that meet drew to a close on Labor Day. Owner Austin Delaney won his fourth and fifth races of the meet during the last week, when Continental Reins and Mayo Post both cleared another allowance condition after winning earlier in the meet.
Tom Moran and his partners were exhilarated by Rousing Victory’s win in the John’s Call Stakes. And they put Mountain Mambo over in two high-priced claiming races on the grass. Better yet, there were no takers for the filly.
Trainer Eddie Kenneally left his Midwest confines for the Adirondacks for the first time and enjoyed success twice during the final week. Ten Carat Ruby won a third-level allowance race for the Waterford conditioner, while
Deputy Glitters romped by 13 lengths in his debut race.
Eoin Harty also revealed a good-looking colt late in the meet when Changing Weather came home first by three lengths in his debut.
Finally, Colum O’Brien may have something to look forward to. He sent out Follow My Dream to win by two lengths in her second start, a maiden special race against New York-bred fillies.