Like previous recent GIII Delta Jackpot S. winners Big Drama (Montbrook) and Gourmet Dinner (Trippi), the South Florida-based multiple stakes winner Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron) will be bringing his talents from South Beach for Saturday's $1-million centerpiece.

"Horses that have been stabled at Calder have done well there in the past," trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. acknowledged."

'Every year I say the same thing. The Calder 2-year-olds far exceed what you think they could do based on pedigree and everything else. I don't know--I don't think it's the surface. I just think that Calder 2-year-olds do well wherever they go."

The runaway winner of the washed-off Fasig Tipton Turf Dash S. in the slop Aug. 25 and the two-turn Foolish Pleasure S. Sept. 15 has plenty of bullets in the holster for the big one, including a best of-22 five-furlong move in 1:00 2/5 at the Miami oval Oct. 28. He breezed an easy mile in 1:43 3/5 Nov. 6. 'Needless to say, the purse is a million dollars," Plesa admitted of the Jackpot's appeal. 'He's trained well and has done well, and it just looked like the right spot for us."

The versatile Itsmyluckyday, no worse than third in five career trips to the post, earned his diploma by two lengths at Monmouth Park in June. He certainly held his own in his lone try on grass, placing a close third in the Jersey Shore's Tyro S. Aug. 5. Subsequent GII Summer S. hero I'm Boundtoscore (Even The Score) was second that day, beaten only a half-length. What does Plesa think Itsmyluckyday's best game will be going forward? "I think two turns--that's what I thought before his last race," Plesa replied. "I was dying to get him into a two-turn race and I just didn't have an opportunity to do so. I was chomping at the bit to get him in a distance race and he proved me right. It will be interesting when we can stretch him out on the turf, whenever that may be."

Itsmyluckyday, a $47,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by former trainer turned bloodstock agent Nick Hines, brought $110,000 from Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa earlier this year at the OBS March sale. Consigned by Eisaman Equine as agent, the dark bay covered an eighth in :10 3/5 (video) during the breeze show. The second foal out of the stakes-placed Doneraile Court mare Viva La Slew was bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm.

"I liked that he was by Lawyer Ron," Plesa offered. "I had run against him with Gottcha Gold (defeated Lawyer Ron in the 2007 GIII Salvator Mile H. at Monmouth Park), and I know what kind of horse he was. I liked the way (Itsmyluckyday) moved, I liked where he came from and he fit my budget. Eisaman Equine does an outstanding job, and I feel 100% comfortable with what they sell."

Plesa quipped, "We got lucky." -Steve Sherack

Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Daily News