Itsmyluckyday Coasts Home in Majestic Light
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Itsmyluckyday continued his progress on the comeback trail May 24, clearing Code West by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths in the $75,000 Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth Park .
Under confident handling from regular rider Paco Lopez, the 4-year-old Lawyer Ron colt coasted home geared down as the 3-10 choice in the final sixteenth of the mile and 70-yard event. He recorded his second straight victory after winning the April 26 Best of the Rest Stakes by three lengths at Gulfstream Park.
His much-the-best win in the Majestic Light may have earned him a trip to the June 7 Met Mile (gr. I) at Belmont Park, although trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said the July 6 Salvator Mile (gr. III) was a more likely target.
"Paco rode him pretty confidently," Plesa said. "He geared him down for the final sixteenth. This was a tough race with tough competition and he came through it just fine. I believe the best is still in front of him. We may bring him back in the Met Mile, but that's a little quick, just two weeks. If not, we'll likely go in the grade III here (the Salvator Mile). We'll let him tell us what to do."
Itsmyluckyday finished second to Oxbow in the 2013 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). He was also second to eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Orb in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) after winning the Holy Bull (gr. III) over 2012 juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby . He came off the runner-up finish in the Preakness to run in the Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park last June, but did not finish after suffering a pelvic fracture that put him out for the rest of the season.
The bay colt returned from that rest with a fourth in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) in March, and has won twice for Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa since then.
"Itsmyluckyday is a really nice horse," Lopez remarked. "You can do whatever you want with him, he's really easy to ride. I just let him run his race and when I let him go I knew I had a lot of horse; he was really comfortable."
Itsmyluckyday pressed the pace set by Spa City Fever, who showed the way for a quarter in :24.35 and a half in :48.34 before the eventual winner took over for three-quarters in 1:12.07. Lopez kept up the hand urging for a mile in 1:37.28, and Itsmyluckyday galloped home in 1:41.66 on the fast track.
Itsmyluckyday returned $2.60, $2.10, and $2.10 while Code West paid $2.60 and $2.20 a half-length ahead of Spa City Fever, who brought $2.80 while holding for third. Golden Itiz and Behemoth completed the order of finish. Convoy Captain and Warrioroftheroses scratched.
Itsmyluckyday, bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm out of the Doneraile Court mare Viva La Slew, improved his record to 7-3-1 from 16 starts, with earnings of $932,600.
The bay colt was a $110,000 purchase by Eddie Plesa at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2012 March sale of 2-year-olds in training from the Eisaman Equine consignment. He went into that auction after being pinhooked by Nick Hines for $47,000 from the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale.