Itsmyluckyday gets revenge on Moreno in Woodward

"The other horse (Moreno) came over and bumped into my horse. I didn't bump

that horse," said jockey Paco Lopez, who guided Itsmyluckyday to victory in 1:48

4/5 over 1 1/8 miles.

The Woodward was the first outing for Itsmyluckyday while wearing blinkers.

In the Whitney, Itsmyluckyday was held safe by Moreno, who led wire-to-wire in

winning by 1 1/4 lengths.

"The last time, the horse looked outside and inside and was looking too

much," Lopez said. "We worked him in the blinkers and I worked him twice, and he

was unbelievable in the blinkers both times."

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., who trains Itsmyluckyday for Trilogy Stable and

Laurie Plesa, was understandably proud of his colt.

"It's like when you have a child that does something out of the ordinary,

exceptional, that you know he could do; that's what it felt like," Plesa said.

"I mean, horses aren't your children, but we take great pride in our horses; we

take great pride in our craft. He did what he needed to do in a manner nobody

would dispute was spot on or that he was the best horse today."

The Woodward was the eighth stakes win for Itsmyluckyday, whose biggest wins

previously were Grade 3 scores in the 2013 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park and the

July 6 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. He's also accounted for the 2012 editions

of the Fasig-Tipton Dash and Foolish Pleasure at Calder, the 2013 Gulfstream

Park Derby, and the Best of the Rest and Majestic Light, a pair of $75,000

stakes at Monmouth run earlier this year.

Among the notable runner-up finishes by Itsmyluckyday were in last year's

Preakness at Pimlico and Florida Derby at Gulfstream, as well as the

aforementioned Whitney earlier this month. His record now stands at 19-9-4-1,

$1,662,600.

A son of 2007 Woodward winner and champion Lawyer Ron, Itsmyluckyday was

reared by the stakes-placed Viva La Slew, a Doneraile Court half-sister to

Mexican champion Medaglia d'Orizaba and stakes winner Ready to Live. This is the

extended family of French classic winner Astronomer Royal, multiple Grade 1

winner Vicar, and Grade 2 hero Navesink River.

Itsmyluckyday was bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm and

sold as a $110,000 OBS two-year-old in training.

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