by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Quietly and without much fanfare, Born Lucky has been racking up victories at Monticello Raceway. On Monday, April 2, the eight-year-old Camluck mare struck again.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Born Lucky crosses the finish line with her ninth seasonal victory, tops in North America.

With Eric Goodell at the controls, Born Lucky cruised to a one length triumph in a 1:56.1 clocking and that victory was the mare’s ninth of the season, which places her at the top of the North American leaderboard in seasonal victories.

Goodell, subbing for regular teamster Larry Stalbaum, who is out of action for a few days because of an interference racing infraction, sent Born Lucky to the front from post position five and she was never seriously challenged as she easily led Amy’s Dreamboat to the finish line well in hand.

Racing for a $20,000 claiming tag — actually $24,000 because of the mare’s allowance — Born Lucky began the season on January 2 with a 1:58.1 victory and then strung together four more wins before tasting defeat by Lady Coyote on February 20. She returned to the winner’s circle on February 26 with a 1:57.3 triumph and since then the daughter of Camluck has registered three more wins and her triumph yesterday was the mare’s second consecutive.

This year Born Lucky has nine wins, one second and one third in 12 starts and thus far has earned $46,430 in purse money. Her fastest victory this season was a 1:56.2 effort in the track’s $15,000 Mares Preferred Pace on March 12. In her career Born Lucky has won 33 races, amassed purses of $397,015, and owns a lifetime record of 1:50.3 taken as a 6-year-old.

Owned by Michael Sorentino of Yonkers, N.Y. and Kimberly Asher of Leslie, Mich. and trained by Asher, Born Lucky returned a $3.30 win mutuel.

Goodell also won an $11,900 winners over pace with Ksues Dark Justice, another mare conditioned by Kim Asher.

That contest turned out to be another wire-to-wire triumph when Goodell gunned Ksues Dark Justice to the lead on the first turn and then was content being a passenger as the 5-year-old Turbo Twin mare made every pole a winning one en route to a 1:56.4 conquest over favored Eagle Boots and driver Stephane Bouchard.

Ksues Dark Justice, owned by Eric Prevost of Farmington Hills, Mich., paid $13.40 for win.

Goodell, who has found a home back East, now has driven 70 winners here and is currently third on the local leaderboard in races won this season.