LUST FOR LIFE STARTS THE SEASON IN DRAMATIC FASHION

So, you want to be in the racing game? Watching a race like Lust for Life’s seasonal debut is all the reason you need. Seeing your horse run “lights out” against a formidable rival and nail that foe in the last possible neck thrust, is like watching one of your kids hit the game winning shot in a buzzer beater. It launches a personal emotion of triumph that is impossible to replicate. (Of course, your kid isn’t going to hand you a check for $21,720 on the way out of the gym!)

Owned in partnership by HMDC and Taste of Victory Stables, Lust for Life’s heart-stopping effort took place at Mahoning Valley on Thursday the16th in the 7th race. Making his 4-year-old debut, Lust for Life tackled a field of nine Registered Ohio-Breds. Penny Rone deputized for her husband Mike and gave a leg up to Jan Aviles, who would break from post eight. The race was slated to be run at a distance of 6 furlongs, but weather-related track conditions in the chute necessitated a switch to 5 1⁄2 furlongs. Lust for Life prefers to be on or near the lead in sprints, so the switch wasn’t a detriment to his style.

Lust for Life was eager to get the season started and popped right out of his outside post to get excellent position just off the leader. As the field began their stretch run, four of them were across the track at the furlong marker. This was cooking up to be a good one. The pacesetter relinquished his lead, Lust for Life inherited it and late-developing Bold Buckeye joined Lust for Life. Bold Buckeye took a neck lead at the 16th pole and Lust for Life took up the challenge. Those two exchanged strides to the wire when Jan Aviles put the gelding’s nose down in the last head-bob for the win.

In only 7 lifetime starts, Lust for Life is closing in on the $100,000 mark with a record of 7-4-0-2 for total earnings of $94,687.

Lust for Life is a Mapleton-bred son of Cowtown Cat out of Love Spun by Hard Spun. She is also the dam of the very speedy SPECIAL RESERVE, g. by Midshipman. 9 wins, 4 to 6, 2022, $789,746, Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. [G2] (KEE, $150,000), Maryland Sprint Match Series S. [G3] (PIM, $82,500), Iowa Sprint S. (PRM, $60,000), Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial S. (MNR, $46,725), 2nd Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. [G1] (SAR, $70,000), Commonwealth S. [G3] (KEE, $40,000).