Itsmyluckyday wore down champion Shanghai Bobby to win the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, handing the previously undefeated colt the first defeat of his six-race career.
Ridden to victory by Elvis Trujillo, Itsmyluckyday got off to an excellent start at the beginning of the mile and a sixteenth race, and soon settled into third place as Shanghai Bobby and Clearly Now set moderately quick fractions of :23.34, :46.68, and 1:10.69 seconds. Frac Daddy, Fredericksburg, Tulira Castle, and Bern Identity were also flashing speed, while Dewey Square, Sr. Quisqueyano, and Joshua's Comprise were the early trailers.
Rounding the far turn, Itsmyluckyday advanced on the outside to challenge Shanghai Bobby for the lead, and the two colts hooked up in a stretch battle that quickly put them many lengths clear of the rest of the field. For a time, it appeared as though Shanghai Bobby might have enough left in the tank to hold off Itsmyluckyday, but the latter colt drew clear in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by two lengths. The final time of 1:41.81 was a new track record by nearly three-fifths of a second.
Clearly Now finished third, 11 1/2 lengths behind Shanghai Bobby. Joshua's Comprise, a 132.60-1 shot, rallied late to complete the superfecta. Bern Identity, Frac Daddy, Dewey Square, Sr. Quisqueyano, Tulira Castle, and Fredericksburg completed the order of finish.
The winner is a son of Lawyer Ron out of the Doneraile Court mare Viva La Slew. He is trained by Edward Plesa Jr. and is owned by Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa.
-Keelerman
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