Stallions account for runner-up stakes finishes on Millions Preview card

 Gulfstream West’s Millions Preview program resulted in a pair of Pleasant Acres’ stallions gaining stakes-placed runners yesterday, Decorated Ace finishing a fast-closing second in the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf and Lucky Mike doing likewise in the $75,000 Juvenile Turf. 

Decorated Ace, who had broken her maiden while winning the Sorority at Monmouth Park in September, sat a comfortable tracking fourth down the backstretch in the one-mile Juvenile Fillies. Samy Camacho guided her between horses on the turn and she closed with a rush, falling one-half length short at the wire. The Treasure Beach filly bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon earned a check for $14,400, raising her bank account for her first season to $65,500. 

Lucky Mike became the first stakes-placed runner for freshman sire Handsome Mike, despite an erratic run through the stretch with Hector Berrios. The colt came into the Juvenile Turf with just one fourth-place finish under his belt and sat within hailing distance until the turn. Berrios moved off the rail heading into the stretch but Lucky Mike suddenly ducked back to the inside under a right-handed whip. He was making up ground with every stride when Berrios hit him several times with a left-handed whip. Lucky Mike veered out to the four or five path, fortunately with none of his rivals in his way. A strong late run moved him into second just before the wire, one length behind the winner, good for a check of $14,550.