Woodward winner Itsmyluckyday likely will not be taking the conventional
route to the November 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Rather than use
the Jockey Club Gold Cup as a stepping stone to the $5 million Classic, the
colt’s trainer, Eddie Plesa, has opted instead for the $400,000 Kelso on
September 27.
“We thought (the Kelso) was the best fit for him right now,” Plesa said.
“He’s very efficient at a mile, and it makes no difference whether it’s one turn
or two turns.”
The son of Lawyer Ron first made a splash on the 2013 Triple Crown trail,
when he won the Gulfstream Park Derby and Holy Bull before finishing second in
the Florida Derby. The Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa-owned colt went on to
finish 15th in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Preakness, but his year
ended prematurely after he was injured in Monmouth Park’s Pegasus in mid-June.
As a four-year-old, Itsmyluckyday has returned better than ever. The dark bay
colt started his year with a fourth-place finish in the Gulfstream Park
Handicap, but then rattled off consecutive victories in the Best of the Rest,
the Majestic Light and Salvator Mile, all at Monmouth.
After finishing second in the Whitney behind Moreno, Itsmyluckyday turned the
tables on that foe with a rousing triumph in the Woodward following a
stretch-long duel. The win gave Itsmyluckyday his first Grade 1 score.
On Saturday morning, the Plesa-trained colt put in his final work before the
Kelso, going four furlongs in :49 4/5 at his home base of
Monmouth Park.
“It was just what we wanted,” Plesa said. “He galloped out strongly and
finished (his workout) in 11 (seconds) and change. He’s coming into the race at
110 percent.”
Palace, winner of back-to-back Grade 1s at Saratoga, turned in his final
serious move for the $400,000 Vosburgh on September 27, covering five furlongs
in 1:01 1/5 on Belmont‘s
training track Saturday morning.
“He’s ready,” said trainer Linda Rice of the five-year-old New York-bred son
of City Zip. “He’s in good shape. Everything went well with the breeze, and
we’re ready for Saturday.”
At Saratoga, Palace swept the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and Forego.
“He’s coming off two Grade 1 wins, so obviously we’re just trying to hold him
at that level so he’s up the winning Grade 1s at Belmont,” she added. “He’s been
in great shape, great form and we’re hoping to hold that as long as we can.
“It’s kind of hard to keep a horse that good that long, so that’s why I ran
him at Saratoga — when they’re good, run them, because if you sit on them too
long, before you know it something goes the wrong way,” Rice added.
Palace is 3-2-0 from six starts this year, with his other victory coming in
the True North at Belmont on June 6.
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