Lucky Forever Breaks Record for 6 1/2 Furlongs

Although trainer Gary Lewis would rather have been at Pimlico with Jumron, he didn’t have too bad a Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Lucky Forever, a 6-year-old gelding Lewis trains for owners Jeanie and Russell Bartholomew, broke the world record for 6 1/2 furlongs while winning the $74,425 Rich Cream Handicap.

Sent to the lead right away by jockey Goncalino Almeida, the 2-1 second choice in the field of four completed the distance in 1:13 1/5, eclipsing the old record by two-fifths of a second. Native Paster, a 4-year-old filly ran 1:13 3/5 on a extremely hot and windy day at Del Mar on Sept. 4, 1988. Silver Icon, a 4-year-old colt, equaled that less than a month later at Remington Park in Oklahoma.

*

Last with less than a furlong to run after encountering trouble, Auriette staged an incredible rally and beat Artica by three-quarters of a length in the $107,100 Honeymoon Handicap.

Trained by Gary Jones for owners Rick Barnes and Prestonwood Farm, the 3-year-old Caerleon filly ran her last sixteenth of a mile in about five seconds to win under Eddie Delahoussaye. The time for the 1 1/16 miles on turf was 1:41 3/5.

Artica, who looked home free in mid-stretch, was second, three lengths ahead of favorite Top Shape.