Winner of the week - Lust For Life
He had a funny way of doing it, but HMDC’s Lust For Life got the job done on Wednesday in a $35,800 Allowance for Accredited-breds. Mike Rone brought him up to his seasonal debut off a solid regimen of well-spaced workouts that got faster for this event.
Photo: Lust For Life poses for photographer Jeff Zamaiko after seeing himself on the big screen
Lust For Life won at first asking going wire-to-wire. In his second start he led again, only to falter in the late going. He became stakes-placed in his next and final start of 2023 when he led and eventually settled for 3rd place in the Josh Radosovich Memorial at Mahoning. Perhaps there was bleeding involved or he lost interest late, but Rone seemed to take care of both problems.
Lust For Life, now a 3-year-old, raced on Lasix for the first time and without his blinkers on. When the gates opened, Lust For Life showed his lust for speed and went right to the front. Riding him for the first time, jockey Yan Aviles let him loose into the stretch and they pulled away by 6 ½ lengths. All alone with plenty to look for without his hood, Lust For Life may have spotted his image on the big screen or wanted a close-up with photographer Jeff Zamaiko, either way he abruptly headed across the stretch towards the grandstand. Aviles let him stay in stride while sternly guiding him back towards the rail for a 7 ¾ length win.
The sophomore gelding galloped out well and returned happy for his winner’s pose. Lust For Life is by Cowtown Cat out of Love Spun by Hard Spun and was bred by Mapleton Farm. He is a half-brother to Graded Stakes winner Special Reserve - 9 wins, 4 to 6, 2022, $789,746. Lust For Life now sports a 4-2-0-1 record for earnings of $48,397.
Horse Workout Notification
September 5, 2024
I Belong First (2-Year-Old Filly)
Date: September 5, 2024
Track: THISTLEDOWN
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 51:00 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 17/29
Countess Colette (3-Year-Old Filly)
Date: September 4, 2024
Track: THISTLEDOWN
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.00:80 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 1/4
