Multiple stakes winner Itsmyluckyday bounced out of his first published work in nearly seven months in good shape, leaving trainer Eddie Plesa excited about the 4-year-old's 2014 campaign.
"He looks like a million dollars," said Plesa, who trains Itsmyluckyday for his wife, Laurie, and Trilogy Stable. "He came out of the work 110 percent. He's anxious, no question about it. I just have to make sure I have enough patience for the both of us."
Itsmyluckyday, runner-up in both the Besilu Stables Florida Derby and Preakness (both gr. I) last year, went an easy three furlongs in 36 seconds flat on Dec. 31 at Palm Meadows. It was the fastest of 33 horses at the distance.
His most recent breeze came in early June as a lead-up to the June 16 Pegasus (gr. III) at Monmouth Park. Itsmyluckyday was pulled up in the Pegasus with what was later diagnosed as a pelvic fracture, ending his 3-year-old season.
"I like the way he did what he did," Plesa said of the workout. "He did it in hand, he did it willfully, and he did it without being asked. He just really couldn't be doing any better.
"I didn't expect it (to be that fast), but it didn't surprise me. He's just that kind of horse, and he's anxious. He's a good-feeling horse that's happy to be out on the racetrack doing what he was bred to do. It's very gratifying to see the way this time off has healed him."
Plesa said he will keep Itsmyluckyday on a weekly work schedule leading up to his 4-year-old debut. A likely target is the $100,000 Skip Away (gr. III) going 1 3/16 miles at Gulfstream Park March 29.
"I have no plans or any race picked out," Plesa said. "When the time comes, he'll let me know we're close and then I'll start looking around."
Itsmyluckyday won the Gulfstream Park Derby and Holy Bull (gr. III) in 2013 before finishing second to eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Orb in the Florida Derby. After a disappointing 15th in the Derby, the son of Lawyer Ron bounced back to run second to Oxbow in the Preakness. His overall record stands at 5-3-1 in 13 races with earnings of $830,100.
Bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm, the dark bay colt is out of the Doneraile Court mare Viva La Slew.
Itsmyluckyday
Coady Photography