Just Feelin' Lucky Wins Mona Lisa Stakes

With two sons of Justify on the Australian roster for this spring, breeders got a good reminder as to his merits on Friday when Just Feelin Lucky (4m Justify x Phylicia, by Pierro) took out the $250,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong.

A big field of 14 mares went around in the feature event and the race produced a thrilling finish with less than two lengths separating the first eight over the line, with Just Feelin’ Lucky taking the prize.

Trained by Michael Freedman, Just Feelin’ Lucky showed her class last season, winning the Group III BRC Gunsynd Classic before heading for a winter spell.

The four-year-old daughter of Justify was having her second run back from a spell and produced a tenacious effort for Tommy Berry to win by a head.

Just Feelin’ Lucky was a modest $80,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds draft and has the overall record of five wins and two seconds from 10 starts with prizemoney just shy of $390,000.

Just Feelin’ Lucky was bred by Catherine Remond and comes from one of her very best families, claiming Group-winning blue hen Twiglet as her third dam.

Just Feelin’ Lucky is the second foal and second winner from Phylicia, a placed half-sister by Pierro to dual Group I winner Cosmic Endeavour from stakes-winner Crevette.

Phylicia had a yearling colt by Acrobat sell at Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale this year to John Foote Bloodstock for $70,000, and she produced a colt foal last year by Justify.

Just Feelin’ Lucky is one of 51 stakes-winners worldwide for Justify, whose champion son City of Troy is in Australia this spring at a fee of $49,500, while his Australian bred son Storm Boy is also on the roster priced affordably at $16,500.

Justify is also available for Southern Hemisphere covers at Coolmore’s Kentucky base of Ashford Stud.