NYRA/Adam Mooshian
Juddmonte Farms’ Lunar Victory, whose career began in Great Britain, seems to like it just fine in the New York barns of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, proving it once again on Monday afternoon at Saratoga when he collected his fourth straight victory and first stakes score on the NYRA circuit in the featured $100,000 Evan Shipman for New York-breds.
Partnered with Junior Alvarado and bet down to 6-5 favoritism in the five-horse field, Lunar Victory broke well and immediately set up outside the speedy Johannesburg Smile, the 3-2 second choice, who blazed the way through early fractions of 23.54 and 46.85 as the pair opened up 10 lengths on the rest of the field.
Drawing alongside the pacesetter with a half mile to go in the nine-furlong race, Lunar Victory raced head to head with Johannesburg Smile through the far turn and emerged with a clear lead at the quarter pole.
NYRA/Courtney Stafford
Opening up by five lengths in the stretch, the 5-year-old son of Speightstown was geared down to cross the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Sailmate, who had raced in third throughout and closed to finish 1 1/2 lengths clear of Johannesburg Smile. Pure Attitude and Good Karma completed the order of finish, while Mineswept and Fiddlers Afleet were scratched. After six furlongs in 1:10.24, Lunar Victory completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.30
Winning jockey Junior Alvarado said, “He broke really sharp and I let him run the first part of the race. From there I was just waiting as much as I could. I didn’t want to let him go to early because he had a little bit of a layoff. At the quarter pole, he passed the other horse like it was nothing. Turning for home, I asked him a little bit and he responded to me. He did everything himself. Bill Mott had him really ready for me. He had plenty left as well.”
Bill Mott said, “I think the horse put himself into the race. He’s a pretty fast horse. I had envisioned him settling three or four lengths off the lead. It looked like when he broke, the horse put himself there. As it turned out, he was going comfortably. I don’t think [jockey Junior Alvarado] was asking him to do something he was unable to do. He set good fractions and kept going. It looked like he was going to be able to put whatever pressure he needed on the horse on the lead whenever he wanted to. It looked like the others were so far back. I didn’t see anyone make up any ground.”
When asked whether Lunar Victory would be seen any time soon in open company, Mott said it was possible. “He’s turned into a good dirt horse, and I guess it’s a bonus being a New York-bred.”
A well traveled individual, Lunar Victory returned to New York after starting eight times in Great Britain, where he broke his maiden in his fifth start going 1 1/4 miles on turf. With five starts this country since December, he followed up a runner-up finish at Aqueduct in his North American debut, with three open-length allowance wins, most recently when facing open company on March 3. In his career Lunar Victory has compiled a record of 5-3-2 from 13 starts and earned $201,039.
Bred by William Parsons Jr. and David S. Howe and foaled at Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains, Lunar Victory is one of two winners out of the winning A. P. Indy mare Lunar Colony. He was purchased by Juddmonte at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale for $350,000.
