Itsmyluckyday Takes Final Bow in 2014 Cigar Mile

Itsmyluckyday Takes Final Bow in 2014 Cigar Mile: On November 29, 2014, a certain horse that has fought his entire three season long racing career, will enter the Aqueduct starting gate for the first and final time. The Lawyer Ron stud colt, Itsmyluckyday, is hoping to go out a winner to cap off an amazing racing career.

The Eddie Plesa Jr. trainee is expected to “appreciate the cooler weather” as he leaves Florida for the last time. After the Cigar Mile, Itsmyluckyday will be headed to Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky to start his stud career.

Laurie and Eddie Plesa, partial owners of the colt, “will be keeping both eyes on Itsmyluckyday” for the race. Laurie states that they are “not concerned with the others.” The colt has been training well at Gulfstream Park West (aka Calder) since his last start on October 27. In the six weeks since, Lucky has recorded a work every week, being on top of the spectrum and showing that he is ready to roll in his final start.

The Cigar Mile was renamed in 1997. Originally the NYRA Mile, the race was won in 1994 by the Invincible Cigar. After his retirement, the race was renamed in his honor. Cigar retired with just under $9,999,815 dollars in career earnings and the record of 16 straight career wins, tying the 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation.

Itsmyluckyday is coming into the race against other foes that are searching for a prestigious grade one win. Noble Moon hasn’t won a race since the G2 Jerome at Aqueduct in January. He hasn’t even hit the board since then. Vyjack is the G2 winner of the Kelso, where he defeated Itsmyluckyday. Vyjack is possibly the biggest threat to Itsmyluckyday, as he is unbeaten at Aqueduct. Transparent is likely the least threatening as he is not placed in a graded stakes. He did win an allowance last out. This is definitely a step up for Transparent.

Secret Circle has been on hiatus most of the year, but has won at distances longer than a mile. In 2011, he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, which is no longer run. In 2013, Secret Circle was on the Kentucky Derby trail when he won the G3 Southwest Stakes and the G2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. To cap off 2013, Secret Circle won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and was second in this year’s edition of the race. Can he stretch back out to challenge more experienced milers?

Private Zone is a 2x grade one winner and was second in the 2013 Cigar Mile to Flat Out. Regally Ready hasn’t won a graded stakes wince 2011, but is coming into this race on a three race win-streak in listed stakes. Big Business placed in G1 Forego this year, but has been mainly campaigned in allowance optional claimers. Bourbon Courage placed in the 2012 Grade One Donn Handicap and won the 2012 Grade Two Super Derby. Can he get back to his winning ways around a one-turn mile?

Itsmyluckyday has a tall task ahead of him, but the connections are confident that Lucky can finish his career with a win. The colt has “matured and gotten bigger and stronger” over his career, and his works have gotten stronger and more impressive.

Itsmyluckyday will grace the racetrack one last time on November 29, before commencing stud duty in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farms alongside his old rival, Goldencents. Itsmyluckyday has been as versatile and impressive as his late sire, Lawyer Ron, and will likely attract some top quality mares, and will likely make an impact on the future of the breed.

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Cigar Mile 2014 Post Positions & Odds
**Race #10 4:17 PM ET
1 Private Zone 3-1 Pedroza/Velazquez
2 Itsmyluckyday 4-1 Lopez/Plesa, Jr.
3 Noble Moon 20-1 Ortiz/Gyarmati
4 Vyjack 8-1 Ortiz, Jr./Rodriguez
5 Transparent 6-1 Castellano/McLaughlin
6 Secret Circle 2-1 Rosario/Baffert
7 Big Business 20-1 Velasquez/Jacobson
8 Regally Ready 15-1 Velazquez/Asmussen
9 Bourbon Courage 12-1 Lezcano/Gorder