'Stormy Lucy' Wins $150K Santa Barbara Handicap At Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Stormy Lucy rallied to win the $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap by a neck at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Stormy Lucy ran 1 1/4 miles on the turf in 1:58.73 and paid $5.40, $3 and $2.60 as the 8-5 favorite.

Argentina-bred Miss Serendipity returned $4.60 and $3.80, while Changethechannel was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $5.80 to show.

Stormy Lucy was trained by Frank Lucarelli in her previous 21 starts before she was sold privately to Lucarelli's high school friend Steve Moger. His brother, Ed Moger, trains the 5-year-old mare now.

"The horse was ready-made when I got her," Ed Moger said.

Stormy Lucy was coming off a win in the Santa Ana Stakes on March 16.

"Her last race, she was rank when she was behind horses but today she relaxed," Bejarano said. "She and I were really comfortable the whole way, all the way to the three-eighths pole. I was confident to come around and let her go. I knew how much horse I had at the three-eighths and I knew she was going to show me a big kick. I just wanted to make sure I was clear and away from any trouble."

The victory, worth $90,000, increased Stormy Lucy's career earnings to $482,200, with seven wins in 22 starts.

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