Itsmyluckyday breezes at Calder

Itsmyluckyday is on course for the Florida Derby (Courtney Heeney/Adam Coglianese Photography) Itsmyluckyday worked a half-mile in :48 4/5 Saturday morning at Calder for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., his first workout since his stunning two-length victory over previously undefeated juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. “It was exactly what I was looking for,” Plesa said later in the morning. “I got him galloping out (five furlongs) in 1:01. He’s right on schedule. He’ll probably work about every seven days, although I might change it up on him one of those times with an easy mile work. I haven’t decided.” Regular exercise rider Isidorio Ramos was in the saddle for Saturday’s move. The son of Lawyer Ron won the one-mile Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year’s Day before the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull and is on target for a rematch with Shanghai Bobby in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles on March 30. In other news from the South Florida three-year-old set, Team Stallion Racing Stable and partners’ Rydilluc developed more than a few fans with a stunning 5 3/4-length victory in an entry-level turf allowance on January 5 at Gulfstream Park with jockey Edgar Prado aboard for trainer Gary Contessa. That performance that will send him into the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes on March 3 with high hopes from his connections.

“The Palm Beach has been the long-range plan for him for about two months,”
Contessa said from Belmont Park, where he has his main division with a smaller
winter string at Palm Meadows.

“He has trained fantastic down there and Edgar (Prado) is very high on him.
In fact he’s gotten in his car and driven up to Palm Meadows to work him every
time.

“He trained so good on dirt before his first start I thought he’d gallop, but
he never even got involved. Then we said ‘maybe he’s a turf horse’ and he was
very impressive winning his second start.

“However, we still haven’t ruled out
anything and he still could be on the Derby Trail. If things go well in the Palm
Beach we’ll consider the Blue Grass (Grade 1 at Keeneland April 13) or the
Spiral (Grade 3 at Turfway March 23).”

A son of Medaglia d’Oro purchased for $150,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic
May Sale as a two-year-old, Rydilluc finished fifth of six going a mile on the
main track at Belmont on October 13, a race won by Todd Pletcher-trained
Delhomme, but bounced back to break his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths going a mile on
turf at Aqueduct on November 23 with Prado aboard for the first time.

Contessa, who recently passed the 2,000 career victory milestone, was due to
fly into South Florida Friday and stay on through the Palm Beach.

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