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Lucky Chuck Wins Indiana Futurity
Apprentice Jockey Ben Creed earned his first career stakes win Sunday, Oct. 11 aboard Lucky Chuck in the $70,000 Indiana Futurity. Lucky Chuck completed the six-furlong event with an open length win at the end to score his second career victory for trainer David Pate and Jim Skaggs’ Spade Stable.
Starting from the center of the seven-horse field, Lucky Chuck broke toward the back as stablemates Tuerto, ridden by Nelson Arroyo, and Prohibitive, ridden by Ronnie Allen Jr., dominated the front spots early. Down the backstretch, Lucky Chuck was buried among horses, but stayed right behind the pace-setters waiting patiently for his time to strike.
Around the final turn, a small seam opened up and Lucky Chuck was there to capitalize on the opportunity. The Evansville Slew gelding shot through and was leading the way before the field hit the stretch. Lucky Chuck began to open up on the field, placing six and one-half lengths between him and his opponents at the finish line. Lone Star Cowboy and leading rider Orlando Mojica rallied up for second over Our Devil’s Halo and Tommy Pompell, who also closed well for third.
“I was just waiting for a hole to open up,” said Creed. “I watched the replay for his (Lucky Chuck) last victory, and he did the same thing. Once he moved through, he knew he had it and I knew he had it then, too. He was real relaxed on the lead.”
Lucky Chuck now has two wins in four starts over Hoosier Park’s oval. The freshman more than doubled his career bankroll to the $70,000 barrier. It was the first time he had been accompanied by Creed in seven career starts.
Creed, who recently graduated from the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Ky., earned the biggest win of his career to date with his victory aboard Lucky Chuck. The Taylorsville, Ky. native began riding in late May after graduating from the second class of the jockey school run by Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. The school is part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and accredited through the Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
