Lu Ravi Upsets Silverbulletday

The hard-luck year for Silverbulletday continued Tuesday as the Eclipse champion lost a close decision at the hands of Lu Ravi in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) Tuesday at Monmouth Park. Under Pat Day, Lu Ravi completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.17 over a track listed as good.

Lu Ravi sat in second, just off the early pace, with Silverbulletday and Corey Nakatani tucked along the rail in third. Lu Ravi accelerated to the lead on the turn for home and opened a two-length advantage on Silverbulletday at the eighth pole, but Silverbulletday came on strong in deep stretch to cut the margin to a head at the wire. Early pacesetter Belle Chiara was 5 3/4 lengths back in third, with Country Hideaway fourth, followed by Tap to Music, Wittenberg, and Too too Divine.

Lu Ravi (A.P. Indy--At the Half, by Seeking the Gold) earned $180,000 for the win, her ninth in 20 starts. Her win in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) in May increased her career earnings over the $1-million mark. The Molly Pitcher marks her fourth graded stakes victory. She was bred in Kentucky by W.G. Lyster III and is owned by Yoshio Fujita. The 5-year-old mare is trained by Carl Bowman.

Lu Ravi returned $5.60, $2.60, and $2.10 and led an exacta worth $13.60.

In the $75,000 co-feature, the six-furlong Regret Stakes, Bob Baffert trainee Chilukki returned to sprinting and ran away to a 3 1/2-length victory over Superduper Miss. The 3-year-old daughter of Cherokee Run owned by Stonerside Stable completed the race in 1:09.43 on a good track. Chilukki paid $2.40, $2.20, and $2.10. The $1 exacta returned $7.40. Baffert also trains Silverbulletday. (Charts, Equibase)