Florida Derby favourite a forgotten horse now

Louisville, Kentucky: In the Kentucky Derby conversation dominated by Orb, Verrazano and Goldencents, Itsmyluckyday has become a forgotten horse.

That could be a mistake on Saturday in the one-mile Run for the Roses.

Barely a month ago, Itsmyluckyday was the 8-5 favourite for the Florida Derby. He ran a big race there, finishing second to Orb. But the loss dropped Itsmyluckyday’s profile, and that’s just fine with trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. “It’s a good thing,” he said. “I don’t mind at all.”

Because the Florida Derby was not the ultimate goal.

“As much as we would have liked to have won it, as much as we were disappointed we didn’t win it, the true objective is the race coming up Saturday,” he said on Wednesday.

Itsmyluckyday has run only twice since the end of January. After winning the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 26, Itsmyluckyday didn’t run again until the Florida Derby on March 30.

“We did it by design to have a bigger, stronger horse coming into this Saturday,” Plesa said. “It’s worked with him physically. Whether he wins or doesn’t win the race, he’s coming into the race exactly like I would have wanted.”

Plesa estimates Itsmyluckyday was only about 95 per cent ready for the Florida Derby.

“When you’re running against a horse like Orb, you have to be 100 per cent fit,” Plesa said. “He beat us. There is no question he was the best horse that day. Saturday is another day, and I’m anxious for it.”

Itsmyluckyday, who has a 5-2-1 record in 10 starts, first got Plesa thinking about Kentucky after winning the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year’s Day.

“At that point, it enters you mind,” the trainer said. “I always knew he was a nice horse. I always knew he was stakes calibre. Did I think he was this good? I didn’t go that far with the thought. You always hope.”

Sometimes it takes more than hope. Sound advice helps. Plesa, 64, still relies on his 85-year-old dad, former trainer and jockey Eddie Plesa Sr, who will be watching from his home in Florida.

“He’s pretty healthy for his age,” Plesa said. “He’s of the generation where you didn’t get a lot of ‘I love yous’ and hugs and kisses. He says he wants to hang on and follow this and live with this ride. He enjoys it. I talk to him three or four times a day. Even at this age, he still has a tremendous sense of what’s happening in a horse race.”