Michele and Cliff Love's Xtra Luck surged clear entering the stretch and posted a comfortable victory in Saturday's Louisville H. at Churchill Downs, earning his first stakes win with a 1 1/2-length decision. Brian Hernandez Jr. was up for trainer Neil Howard in the 1 1/2-mile turf affair.
After winning only once from his first 17 starts, the four-year-old gelding has now posted a pair of victories from his last three outings. Xtra Luck captured an entry-level turf allowance at Fair Grounds two starts back and was exiting a runner-up effort at Keeneland on April 23. He's now earned $154,644 from a 20-3-4-3 record.
The dark bay returned an $11.60 win mutuel as the 9-2 third choice among nine rivals.
Majestic Harbor advanced to take a clear lead at the start, showing the way through splits of :24 3/5, :48 3/5, 1:14 1/5 and 1:40 3/5. Xtra Luck settled nicely in second entering the first of three turns on the firm course, a couple of lengths back and clear of third, and continued to hold his positioning through the opening mile.
Despite the moderate fractions, the pacesetter gave way readily when challenged nearing the conclusion of the far turn and the Grade 1-winning Majestic Harbor remains winless on turf, weakening to last as the 4-1 second choice. Xtra Luck inherited the lead before the conclusion of the bend and responded when called up by Hernandez entering the straightaway, accelerating away to lead by a couple of lengths in midstretch.
For Greater Glory rallied well through the final furlongs to grab second at 12-1, 1 3/4 lengths better than 2013 Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul. Off at 7-1, Golden Soul edged 5-2 favorite Patrioticandproud by a neck for third.
Xtra Luck stopped the teletimer in 2:28 1/5.
Bred in Florida by Haras Santa Maria de Araras SA, Xtra Luck was purchased for $75,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September sale. He's out of the winning Kris S. mare Miu Miu and this is the immediate female family of 1988 champion turf male Sunshine Forever.