Preakness Stakes: Itsmyluckyday breezes between races

Itsmyluckyday worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds Sunday afternoon at Monmouth Park, a drill Eddie Plesa Jr., his trainer and co-owner, wanted to get in prior to Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico

Plesa chose not to work Itsmyluckyday on Saturday, owing to an off track at Monmouth that morning, and he had no chance to work him Sunday morning because the track was closed for training. But Plesa said management at Monmouth Park worked with him to allow a drill between the third and fourth races on Sunday’s card, by which time the track had been upgraded to fast.

“Management at Monmouth Park is the most accommodating group of people,” Plesa said by phone after the drill. “Everybody in management has a horseman’s mentality. They’ll do whatever they can for you, and I really appreciate it. They’re No. 1 in my book.”

In the workout, Itsmyluckyday broke off just before the half-mile pole and was given an opening-quarter-mile fraction of 23.80 seconds, meaning he completed the final quarter-mile in 23.40. Plesa said he had Itsmyluckyday galloping out five furlongs in 59.60. The workout was shown live by Monmouth Park’s simulcast feed, and Itsmyluckyday appeared to be going well within himself throughout.

“He did it in hand; Elvis never moved on him,” Plesa said, referring to jockey Elvis Trujillo.

Trujillo rode Itsmyluckyday in the Kentucky Derby, in which he finished 15th, but last week Plesa said John Velazquez would ride the horse in the Preakness.

Plesa, who is based in South Florida, keeps a string of horses at Monmouth Park in the summer, which is why Itsmyluckyday headed there from Churchill Downs after the Derby. Plesa said Itsmyluckyday would be sent by van to Pimlico on Tuesday.