Jane's Luck All Good in Deputed Testimony

Water Cannon may have been the best 3-year-old among the six in the $75,000 Deputed Testimony, but fortune smiled on front-running Jane's Luck when the favorite's saddle slipped forward under Ryan Fogelsonger as the field ran down the backstretch.

Under Jozbin Santana, the 8-1 shot jumped out to a two-length lead and never looked back, winning the 1 1/16-mile test for Maryland breds by a half-length in 1:46 3/5 on sloppy going. Andiamo surged late for second by a head over Water Cannon, the 4-5 favorite.

Water Cannon was driving desperately but the equipment error was too much to overcome. Even in defeat, the popular Linda Albert trainee, showed his gameness.

"After the saddle slipped Ryan could not get him to relax and settle down," Albert said. "I don't know if that was the biggest problem. Maybe it just wasn't our day. We'll be back."

James Lawrence trains Jane's Luck at Fair Hill Training Center in Northeast, Maryland. The Polish Numbers gelding is a perfect three for three.

Lawrence said, "The first time I worked this horse I told the owner that we had a Derby horse. We're hoping the Virginia Derby is going to be our Derby.

"We're a little behind schedule, but he's just a beautiful horse. He has a great personality. He was big and slow maturing. We knew we had to take our time and get a foundation into him. I gallop him every day and with my weight I still can't pull him up in the morning."

The winner paid $19.20, $6.20 and $3.60. Andiamo returned $4 and $2.80. Water Cannon was $2.80 to show.

(Chart, Equibase)