Itsmyluckyday Relocated to Ohio

Classic-placed grade 1 winner Itsmyluckyday  has been sold and relocated to Ohio to bolster the growing state-bred program there, according to the stallion's new owner, Gigi Chiandussi.

"What the Ohio market needs is, first, conformation, and, second, it needs speed," Chiandussi said. "This stallion has both. He's gorgeous, and he set a track record."

Itsmyluckyday is the first stallion venture for Chiandussi, who was entrenched in international dressage competition on German Warmbloods prior to attending her first Thoroughbred auction six years ago at the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales January Winter Mixed Sale.

"I already loved horse racing, but that sale started my addiction," she said. Chiandussi came away from OBS with three broodmares: a daughter of Malibu Moon  she bought for $1,700 from Summerfield, and two she bought privately: a stakes winner by Suave Prospect named Alisa's Hope and a Sir Leon mare named Leona's Ticket. The second foal Chiandussi bred out of Alisa's Hope, but the first foal for which she selected the mating, became a winner, as did the second foal she bred out of Leona's Ticket.

A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, Chiandussi has since jumped feet first into the commercial Thoroughbred breeding business. Over the past six years, she has steadily built a 26-head broodmare band and had been mulling standing a stallion. While visiting Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, she learned Itsmyluckyday was available and said it took her about a minute to make an offer.

"I want to support the Ohio market and the Ohio-bred program with a good horse," she said. "The market is getting better every day, and there is an opportunity to be a part of that growth curve. I want a horse that can race to the top of the market."

Itsmyluckyday, a 9-year-old son of Lawyer Ron out of the stakes-placed Doneraile Court mare Viva La Slew, was a top-class performer across three seasons of racing and earned more than $1.7 million. He was a two-time listed winner at 2, and at 3 made a bid for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) by winning the 2013 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in a track-record 1:41.81 for 8 1/2 furlongs before finishing second in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1). He didn't place in the Kentucky Derby but was runner-up in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

At 4, Itsmyluckyday was at his best. He won or placed in six of his eight starts in 2014, getting victories in the Woodward Stakes (G1), Salvator Mile Stakes (G3), and the Majestic Light Stakes. He was runner-up in the Whitney Stakes (G1) and third in the Kelso Handicap (G2).

Itsmyluckyday has sired 45 winners to date. His best runners are multiple stakes winner Itsmyluckycharm and stakes-placed winners Drinkatthecreek and Bebo Lucky Road.

The stallion will stand for $2,000 next year at Dr. Robert Maro's Maro Veterinary Services, which is off McCartney Road east of Youngstown.