Lucky Betty Wins Again For Munnings

Lucky Betty (3f Munnings x Cherokee Beads, by Street Sense) closed out the Oaklawn Park card with an impressive win for trainer William VanMeter on Thursday to record her second consecutive victory.

Racing over 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, Lucky Betty raced on the rail just behind a group of horses dueling for the lead. Happy to let the leaders battle it out a few lengths in front, the filly galloped easily under jockey Declan Cannon down the backstretch. As the field turned into the straight Cannon had to maneuver Lucky Betty a few paths out to find a hole but when he did, she was more than happy to take over the lead.

In only a few strides, Lucky Betty had her nose in front and pulled away to win by 3 1/2 lengths in the final furlong with only the runner-up within 5 ½ lengths of her at the line. The Dennis Park-owned filly has proven to love Oaklawn since debuting at the track in February with two victories and a second in her four starts.

Bred by TK Stables, she was a $145,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase by Taproot Bloodstock from Warrendale Sales. The first foal out of four-time winner Cherokee Beads, her dam is a half-sister to three-time stakes winner Bayerd and listed placed Sphene.

Among this year’s leading sires, Munnings has quickly turned into one of the biggest value sires in Kentucky with his current crop of 3-year-olds including leading Grade I Kentucky Oaks contenders Bonny South, Finite, and Venetian Harbor.