Itsmyluckyday Ready to Rumble in Pegasus

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. is hoping to claim the winner’s share of Sunday’s $150,000 Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes and stamp Itsmyluckyday among the division leaders for champion 3-year-old come years-end.

“This race has been our target since before the Preakness,” Plesa said. “He’s coming into it excellent. The 3-year-old picture is wide open for about a half dozen horses so far. The Haskell is the goal. I haven’t looked past that yet.”

A 3-year-old colt by Lawyer Ron out of the Doneraile Court mare Viva La Slew, Itsmyluckyday has been stabled at Monmouth Park for over a month, and calls the Oceanport backstretch his home. Plesa has breezed Itsmyluckyday twice at Monmouth since he placed in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. He was sixth best of 40 on June 1, going four furlongs in: 48 2/5, and was the only horse to travel five furlongs on June 7, splashing 1:01 1/5 over the slop.

As for strategy in the Pegasus, Plesa believes that his horse’s tactical speed will come in handy.

“Ideally on paper, we’d like to see a fast pace,” said Plesa. “This is when a jockey like Mike Smith can make the difference. It becomes a jockey’s race. You just hope you put him on the best horse and see what happens.”

Itsmyluckyday’s main competition is likely to come from Verrazano, a Grade 1 winner who will be making his first start since the Kentucky Derby in Sunday’s Pegasus.