by Mike Curry

Pacesetter Lucky Island (Arg) shook off Tasteyville in the stretch and powered to his fourth win in as many starts this season with a dominant 4 1/4-length victory in the $161,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G2) on Friday at Belmont Park.

Shadwell Stable’s four-year-old Lucky Roberto colt finished seventh in his North American debut on December 29 at Calder Race Course but has been unstoppable in four races since his lone career defeat.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Lucky Island (Arg) won a six-furlong allowance race by 2 1/4 lengths on February 15 at Gulfstream Park and followed with a 4 1/2-length victory in a seven-furlong allowance/optional claiming race on April 5 at Aqueduct. He entered the Tom Fool off a 2 1/4-length score in his stakes debut on May 10 in the six-furlong Bold Ruler Handicap (G3).

“He’s a very, very, very nice horse,” McLaughlin said. “We are so happy with him.”

Lucky Island broke alertly and went right to the lead in the seven-furlong Tom Fool under Alan Garcia with Grade 3 winner Tasteyville stalking from second and a sizeable gap separating the top two from three other challengers. Lucky Island, sent off as the 3-to-2 second choice in the five-horse field, led through an opening quarter in :22.84 and a half-mile in :45.37. When 1.25-to-1 favorite Tasteyville mounted a challenge in the stretch, Lucky Island responded gamely.

“I had a ton of horse all the way around,” Garcia said. “When I asked him at the end, he acted like the race was just starting again. I was so confident with him.”

Lucky Island drove clear in just a few powerful strides and cruised to a victory in 1:22.71 on a sealed muddy track.

“You know he broke so sharp, that was the key,” McLaughlin said. “We thought we might be cleared, but Alan did a great job of getting him away from there.”

Runner-up Tasteyville was one length clear of third-place finisher Premium Wine.

Lucky Island, who won his racing debut by nine lengths in June 2007 in Argentina, improved to five wins in six starts and boosted his earnings to $224,942. McLaughlin said he could make his next start on August 30 in the Forego Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Bred by Arroyo de Luna, Lucky Island is out of the winning Equalize mare Ebrolize.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor