4/17/2015 Post Time 6:05

RACE 1 KEE   Doubledogdare Stakes (GIII)

$100.000   4yo&Up F&M     1 1/16   Dirt

Fire big indeed…  NorthernTraderStable’s Spiritual Luck, sent off at 14/1 odds, kept her ’15 record perfect, taking Friday evening’s Doubledogdate Stakes (GIII) at KEE in a final time of 1:43 and two for the mile and a sixteenth.  She was fourth in this race last season, and this was her first stakes score since her 2yo campaign.  Defensive Pessimism was second, and Dignity rounded out the $253.70 trifecta.

The field of seven got away well with Defensive Pessimism away quickest of all, Orange Cedar inside of that one, Garfield Dancer to the outside of the leader.  Christmas Venture from the far outside made it four across, then a length back to Humerous Star on the rail, Spiritual Luck, and Dignity was the early trailer.

Around the clubhouse turn and on to the backside, six furlongs to run, and Defensive Pessimism was in front by a neck.  Spiritual Luck three wide and giving chase, a length back to Christmas Venture in third, Orange Cedar skimming the rail, then another length to Humerous Star.  A length back to Dignity, four wide, and Garfield Dancer was now at the rear.

They made their way down the backside and to the far turn, now a half-mile let to run, and Spiritual Luck was now in front by three lengths.  Defensive Pessimism not willing to make this a speed dual dropped back a bit Dignity now moving up to third, Orange Cedar saving ground in fourth, a gap of four back to Christmas Venture, two more back to Humerous Star and Garfield Dancer was the distant trailer, thirteen lengths from the leader.

Around the far turn and into the lane, they went past the three-sixteenths pole, and Spiritual Luck was on cruise control, in front by three.  Defensive Pessimism asked to get going, Dignity swinging out four wide for the drive, Orange Cedar between that pair and five from the leader, and the rest were struggling to stay in the frame.

Down to the final 150-yards and to the finish, this was Spiritual Lucks afternoon, as she galloped home by three.  Defensive Pessimism was second, a length back to Dignity in third and another length back to Orange Cedar in fourth.  Christmas Venture was fifth, Humerous Star sixth and Garfield Dancer closed this one out.

Spiritual Luck is a 5yo bay mare by Spiritual Warrior – Alysheba Way, by HRP-Heroic.  She was bred by her owner, NorthernTraderStable in ON, and this was her seventh win from twenty starts.  She now shows earnings of $415.63.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast         Time: :25¹  :50⁴  1:13⁴  1:43²
$1 Exacta: 3 – 5 Paid 93.00       $1 Trifecta: 3 – 5 – 2 Paid 253.70
Scratched: None

Categories: Grade III