A well-timed ride from Luis Contreras propelled Breaking Lucky to his first graded stakes win in the $150,000 Seagram Cup (Can-III) Aug. 1 at Woodbine.Video: Seagram Cup S. (G3)
Trained by Reade Baker for owner Gunpowder Farms, the son of Central Kentucky sire Lookin At Lucky dueled Canada's reigning champion older male Run Away and Hide down the stretch and edged that rival by three-quarters of a length.
Breaking Lucky tracked in third along the inside as pacesetter Royal Son led Run Away and Hide by a length through six furlongs in 1:13.12. Contreras moved him off the rail past the five-eighths pole and positioned the colt three wide entering the far turn with Royal Son still in command. Run Away and Hide was handy to challenge nearing the five-sixteenths pole and got his head in front, but Breaking Lucky was ready to roll and took over from the top two at the quarter pole. Run Away and Hide battled back but ultimately was outfinished.
Breaking Lucky covered 1 1/16 miles over the all-weather track in 1:42.70, improving his record to 3-3-3 from 13 career starts that include a Canadian classic score in last year's Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.
Breaking Lucky came into Monday's race off a second-place finish to Seagram Cup even-money favorite Melmich in the Dominion Day Stakes (Can-III) July 1 at Woodbine. Melmich came up for third in the Seagram Cup, a neck behind Run Away and Hide, with a game outside rally after racing next to last early in the field of seven
"I was happy the whole way, I just stayed behind the speed and Reade told me to let him kick before everyone else started to make their move," Contreras said. "We did and we got the win. He (Are You Kidding Me) was very game the whole stretch, but I knew I had a lot of power underneath me."
The Seagram Cup marked the first victory for Breaking Lucky ($11.90, $3.70 and $2.60) in seven starts since he captured the Prince of Wales Stakes, second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Breaking Lucky was bred in Ontario by Christine Hayden. Produced from the Sky Classic mare Shooting Party, he sold to Margaux Farm, agent,for $100,000 as a weanling at the 2012 Keeneland November sale. Cara Bloodstock consigned. Four-year-old Breaking Lucky has earned $485,626.