It’s Not Luck wins Four Leaf Clover Preliminary
March 19, 2005,from the Meadowlands Publicity Department
East Rutherford, NJ — It was luck that allowed 75-1 It’s Not Luck to win the second race, the first of two $25,000 second round divisions of the Four Leaf Clover Series on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. “The trip worked out perfect,” said trainer-driver Patrick Lachance. “We had a nice fast half (:54 seconds). I had a two hole trip. The horse going first up (Fox Valley Gallant) made a break at the top of the lane, which gave me a shot.” It’s Not Luck won by a head over JK Royal Flush ($7.00, $4.60) and paid $158.60, $37.80 and $13.20. It was a neck back to Nvincbl Artist ($5.20) in third. The mile was clocked in 1:50.2. “He showed up tonight,” Lachance added. “Last week, he didn’t like going first over. That’s not his preference.” It’s Not Luck, a five-year-old gelded son of Northern Luck, picked up his second victory in eight starts this year. Lifetime, he has 13 wins, nine seconds and nine thirds from 63 starts and earnings of $203,318. He races for the MJGB Racing Stables Inc. of Suffern, New York. In the second division of the Four Leaf Clover, carded as the tenth race, Maltese Artist ($9.60, $5.20, $2.40) popped out of the two hole in the stretch and drew off to a length victory over Town Champion ($4.20, $2.60). Shattered Halo ($2.20) was third by three lengths. Driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Mickey Burke, Maltese Artist paced the mile in 1:50.2. The son of Artiscape now has two wins and three seconds in six starts this year. He races for the partnership of George Leon of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John Howard of Morgantown, West Virginia and James Koran of Macedonia, Ohio. The $122,000 Four Leaf Clover Final is on Saturday, March 26. In the $42,500 Open Pace, the fifth race, Life Source ($4.80, $2.80, $2.40) caught Eaton Road Kill ($3.00, $2.20) for a length victory in 1:49 flat. Cunning Liar ($2.60) was third by two lengths. The 1:49 mile equaled the fastest ever for the month of March which was set by Sagebrush on March 12, 2005. Life Source, driven by George Brennan and trained by Richard J. Banca for his father, Richard T. Banca, posted his third win in nine starts this year and pushed his lifetime bankroll over $1.6 million.