Longshot Howie wins Bluegrass Derby

In a full field of twenty starters in Saturday’s G1 Bluegrass Derby, only one had the right stuff to win the sim’s most prestigious event for 3yos on the main track. Lucky’s Howie, trained by Naracing (Mrlucky) won the first leg of the sim Triple Crown by two lengths.

You See La, trained by Pinerivers (Nextbonus) was second to Lucky’s Howie. The filly earned the distinction of placing higher than any filly had previously in the Derby; Wolf Of Queensland ran third behind 2003 Triple Crown winner I Seek U.

Just Vengeance finished third. Trained by Jma, the colt hot the board for the first time since September’s G1 North Fork Stakes.

Howie prepared for the race by winning a sprint stakes. The unusual training move propelled Howie, who started at 21/1 odds in the Derby, to a win with a solid 2:01.3 final time. it was 3 ticks off the stakes record set in 2009 by Hot and Spicy. Howie’s record now includes wins sprinting and routing on dirt, and sprinting on turf. 

Lucky’s Howie is a son of Gone West out of the Dynaformer mare Lucky’s Megan. He is Megan’s first offspring. This was his fourth win from 15 starts. Howie’s lifetime earnings now stand at $1.677 million.

Congratulations to the connections of Lucky’s Howie for a fine win. The Black Type Bugler hopes to see Lucky’s Howie back in action at the Middle Jewel in two weeks.