Exchange Rate registered his sixth graded stakes winner of the year on Saturday when Xtra Luck scored by 1 ½ lengths in the $100,000 Louisville H. (G3) at Churchill Downs. Exchange Rate’s stakes horses include Grade 1 winner Ball Dancing (Jenny Wiley S.) and Grade 2 winner Miss Ella (Beaumont S.).
Xtra Luck got an ideal trip in the 1 ½-mile Louisville, sitting just behind pacesetter Majestic Harbor before taking over near the top of the stretch and drawing away in the lane to 2:28.24 on the firm turf.
“Obviously these horses are in a little bit of an element, the ones that want to go the marathon distances,” said winning trainer Neil Howard. “He (Brian Hernandez) rode him beautiful. I had an idea (that he was a marathon horse) when he was second going a mile-and-three-eighths in an allowance race last fall, so we figured if the opportunity ever presented itself we’d go for it and I’m glad we did it. We’ll maybe go to Chicago with him.”
Owned by Michele and Cliff Love, the victory was worth $59,520 and improved Xtra Luck’s earnings to $154,644 with a record of 20-3-4-3.
Xtra Luck was bred in Florida by Haras Santa Maria de Araras S.A. Out of the Kris S. mare Miu Miu, Xtra Luck is a half-brother to two-time stakes winner Tamborim.
