Itsmyluckyday finds his way into top 10

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Itsmyluckyday nosed out rival 4-year-old Moreno to win Saturday's Woodward at Saratoga and was rewarded with entry into the NTRA Thoroughbred Poll for races through the Labor Day weekend.

Trained by Eddie Plesa, Itsmyluckyday nailed Moreno at the wire to reverse the order of finish from the Whitney Handicap four weeks earlier. After winning several graded stakes coming into Saturday, Itsmyluckyday notched his first Grade I event.

"He did what he needed to do in a manner nobody would dispute was spot on and that he was the best horse today," Plesa said. "I told the owners, the partners, 'Get tied on. This is going to be as exciting a second half of the year as last year was the first half of the year."

The victory shot Itsmyluckyday into sixth-place in the poll with 163 points.

Also racing Saturday at Saratoga was two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, making his first start since May 3 and also getting a nose on the wire in the Bernard Baruch Handicap. The champion had been recuperating from colic surgery on May 16.

"He knows how to win races. Johnny (jockey Velazquez) said he was tired. I can tell you, he's just an amazing horse. That's the way he wins," said trainer Charlie LoPresti.

Wise Dan picked up an additional 12 top votes over last week to increase his lead to 49 points. The 7-year-old gelding has 28 first-place votes and 395 points.

The next four spots in the poll are unchanged from last week.

Pacific Classic champ Shared Belief garnered six top votes and 346 points followed by California Chrome (4, 325), Close Hatches (2, 277) and Palace Malice (3, 258).

After Itsmyluckyday comes Wicked Strong (103), Woodward runner-up Moreno (90), Untapable (89) and Main Sequence (49).

The National Poll continues through the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 1.