Itsmyluckyday breezed a mile in 1:43 1/5 April 18 at Calder Casino & Race Course in what will likely be his next to last work before shipping to Kentucky for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained colt is tentatively scheduled to breeze one more time before departing Florida April 26.
A son of Lawyer Ron owned by Laurie Plesa and the Trilogy Stable of Marion Montanari and David Melin, Itsmyluckyday has won five of 10 starts including four stakes, and earned. $625,600. Bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm, Itsmyluckyday went through the sales ring twice. Consigned by Brandywine to the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale, the colt was purchased by Nick Hines for $47,000. Pinhooked by Eisaman Equine into the 2012 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March sale of 2-year-olds in training, Itsmyluckyday was purchased by trainer Plesa for $110,000 on behalf of David Melin.
After winning the Gulfstream Park Derby Jan. 1, Itsmyluckyday took the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) before finishing second to Orb in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I).
"I'll be making the trip with him (to Kentucky) and will be watching him all the way," said assistant trainer Frankie Perez, who has been associated with Plesa for 20 years and supervises the stable's Calder division. "Just walking a horse like him through the barn is the best feeling there is. Knowing that right there, in my hands, I'm holding a horse that could be a champion and is worth millions. Not everybody gets to experience that."
Perez has experience leading horses over for the Derby, having accompanied the Plesa-trained filly Three Ring in 1999 (19th), and as part of the Frank Brothers team with Dansil, who finished fourth in 1989.
"It's exciting to make that walk, there is no question about that, but my only concern is going to be right there," Perez said, pointing toward Itsmyluckyday. "There are so many little things that can go wrong and my job is to make sure that the horse stays happy and calm. You don't want him losing his race before he even gets to the paddock.
"I'll sleep right there next to him if I have to," Perez said. "I don't care where I stay. Wherever he goes, that's where you'll find me."
Itsmyluckyday breezed a mile in 1:43 1/5 April 18 at Calder.
Coady Photography/Laura Villasana