Pure Luck was pure speed Thursday, May 4 in her conditioned claiming event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Guided by Jared Finn, the four-year-old mare earned her first career win in her first start of 2023.
Pure Luck, driven by Jared Finn, broke her maiden in her first start of 2023 Thursday, May 4 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Starting from post five, Pure Luck eased over to the inside toward the back of the pack as Tell Me Honey and Kyle Wilfong set the first fraction of :27.2 before allowing an opponent to move around. But it didn’t take long for Tell Me Honey to move back to the outside, traveling by the half in :57.1. Pure Luck was flushed out at the half and went into beast mode, circling the field and moving to the lead by open lengths. At the head of the lane, the mare was ahead of the field by more than 12 lengths.
In the stretch, Pure Luck was on cruise mode to the finish, pacing her last quarter in :28.1 for the six and one half length win in 1:54.1, her first career victory. Tantrum Blue Chip and Trace Tetrick rallied up impressively in the stretch to finish second by open lengths. Tellittoella and John DeLong won the battle in a photo for third.
Pure Luck paid $10.40 for the win. The Luck Be Withyou mare is very inexperienced, only making two starts as a two-year-old and two starts at three before her debut this season. Madison Trot and Finn Racing LLC own the mare and J.D. Finn trains. Dave Yoder of Kentucky bred the pacing mare.
Pure Luck used one qualifier to prep for her four-year-old debut. She was a $5,000 yearling purchase from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. Pure Luck is out of the American Ideal mare Pure Diamond, who has a mark of 1:52.1. She is a 100 percent producer with the family including Pure Rock (1:51.2, $130,000) and Pure Image (1:56.1, $15,000). The family has a two-year-old this season by Downbytheseaside, a filly named Scepter. She also has a yearling filly also by Downbytheseaside named Chicken of the Sea.
Another impressive mile came from another four-year-old as Big Christian earned his second win in three starts this season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Swan for All gelding began his career at The Meadowlands in January, winning his first two starts before earning a win at Yonkers. He is now five for nine in his career and his mile Thursday was a career best in 1:53.3.
Big Christian is owned by Anthony Lombardi and trained by Erv Miller. Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld bred the gelding, who was foaled in Kentucky.
Big Christian was driven to victory by Trace Tetrick Thursday. After following along in second, he found room in the lane and sprinted home in :26.2 for the win by three and one-quarter lengths. Every Day Dan and Robert Taylor finished second over Epic Dreamer and Rick Plano for third.