Lifetime of Chance (3) leads everybody home in Saturday’s Times Square. Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo
By Melissa Bauer-Herzog
The stakes-placed Lifetime of Chance broke through in Saturday’s $200,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series at Aqueduct to become the third stakes winner for former Sequel New York stallion The Lieutenant.
Coming into this race after breaking his maiden by 16 lengths last out, the Destiny Oaks of Ocala-bred broke on top out of the gate. He kept the lead for a few strides before East Coast Girl made it clear he wanted the lead and the eventual winner obliged. As the pacesetter opened a few lengths on the field, Lifetime of Chance settled a few paths off the rail as the field clocked an opening quarter in :22.50.
East Coast Girl opened an even bigger lead into the turn before Lifetime of Chance stepped up the pace to close the margin and sit right behind him with Ten Cent Town on Lifetime of Chance’s outside turning into the stretch. After a :46.34 half, East Coast Girl wasn’t willing to give in easily and continued to fight for control down the Aqueduct stretch.
He grudgingly gave into Lifetime of Chance’s challenge in the final furlong and faded into third with Bank Frenzy making a big run to cut Lifetime of Chance’s victory to a neck with East Coast Girl 2 ½ lengths behind them as Lifetime of Chance stopped the clock in 1:18.65 for the 6 ½ furlongs.
While a stewards’ inquiry delayed making the results official, Lifetime of Chance ultimately kept the victory.
Making his first start for trainer Mark Casse after being moved from Linda Rice’s barn by D.J. Stable off a 7-furlong win March 18, Lifetime of Chance scored for the second time in seven starts. Worse than third just once in his career, he pushed his earnings to $249,940.
“We’ve had him a little under a month. He has just been automatic, really classy and has does everything right since coming under our care. Linda did a good job with him,” said Casse’s assistant Shane Tripp. “It kind of seems like he wants to go a little further than that. Dylan [Davis] was speaking about that when he came back. I think he has a big future ahead of him.”
Lifetime of Chance is a one of two stakes winners out of Janetstickettocats alongside Grade 3 winner Lucky Player with the mare producing three winners from three to race. Rice bought Lifetime of Chance at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale in Maryland for $135,000 from Vargas Sales.
Purchased for $160,000 as a yearling by Destiny Oaks of Ocala, Janetstickettocats is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Runway Model. That mare is the dam of four-time Grade 1 winner McKinzie and stakes placed Rompin Reid.
Janetstickettocats foaled a filly by Union Jackson in Florida in 2021 and foaled a Knicks Go colt in the state March 23.
A half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify, The Lieutenant produced just one crop before his death in Peru in 2019. His sons and daughters include nine winners and five stakes performers in addition to the three stakes winners.
