Lady Samuri Controls Pace in Lighthouse Stakes

Bruno Schickedanz’s Lady Samuri grabbed command right at the start and set easy fractions early before pulling away late in the lane to capture the $75,000 Lighthouse Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday by 8 ¼ lengths.

Trained by Yvon Belsoeur, Lady Samuri went the first quarter mile in :24 4/5 and the half in :49 flat.  After stepping six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 she cruised under the wire in 1:45 for a mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track.  The winner returned $20, $8.80 and $5.  Successful Song, last year’s Lighthouse Stakes winner, completed the $126.20 exacta and paid $4.60 and $3.60.  It was another 7 ½ lengths back to Withgreatpleasure, who paid $5.20 to show.

“She was able to set easy fractions early,” said winning jockey Abel Mariano.  “I was able to control the pace right from the break.  At the quarter pole she switched leads and was gone.”

A 4-year-old filly by First Samurai from the Instrument Landing mare Redeye Rain, Lady Samuri sports a record of 7-2-1 from 20 career starts.