by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Toronto, ON — When Patsys Luck goes behind the starting gate for the Ontario Spring Filly Stakes elimination this Thursday (April 21), trainer John Pentland is hoping his luck with training fillies continues.

Pentland, a resident of Dorchester, Ontario, has had multiple success in the past with fillies. Luck Of Michelle, a daughter of Camluck, earned $824,404 over her career for Pentland and was Canada’s 2-year-old filly of the year in 2006.

Pentland’s success continued with multiple Ontario Sires Stakes graduates in Northern Dutchess ($392,104), Even Now ($288,962), Bold Bidder ($234,589) and Jans Luck, who earned over $215,000 for Pentland, just to name a few.

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Patsys Luck was a 1:55.2 winner in her Woodbine debut.

Now, Pentland is hoping that streak continues with Patsys Luck, a $40,000 yearling purchase from the Standardbred Horse Sale in 2009.

“She was a terrific 2-year-old training down last year. She was just one of those flllies you had to wait on,” Pentland said from his home.

Ironically, Patsys Luck has the same breeding cross as Luck Of Michelle. Both are sired by Camluck, out of Artsplace dams, a cross which was sure to influence the purchase of Patsys Luck.

After racing once at Western Fair two weeks ago, Patsys Luck made her first visit to Woodbine last week a winning one as she stopped the timer in 1:55.2 for driver Mike Saftic.

“I was a little surprised by that effort,” Pentland said. “I wasn’t sure how she would make the transition from a half-mile track to a seven-eighths. She’s not the biggest horse in the word, but she has a terrific gait with no wasted action.”

When asked what the future has in store for Patsys Luck, Pentland is taking it week-by-week.

“It’s still early, but I think she has enough speed to be a Gold filly. She can race on any size track with is also very positive. Since she didn’t race at two, she is eligible for a few stakes at Western Fair and Clinton. I think if managed correctly, she can quietly make a name for herself this summer.”

Paul MacDonell will steer Partys Luck on Thursday for owners Natalie Pentland and Synerco Ventures. She will begin from post one in race one in the first elimination of the Ontario Spring Filly Stakes series. First race post time is 7:30 p.m.