Gulfstream Park: Ever So Lucky gets back to work for Swale

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ever So Lucky was back on the work tab Tuesday for the first time since being scratched from the Hutcheson Stakes on Feb. 11, breezing a sharp five furlongs from the half-mile to the mile pole in 1:00.64 shortly after the second renovation break.

With Mario Madrid aboard, Ever So Lucky broke off a couple of lengths behind stablemate Deciding and then rolled past his target at midstretch, hitting the wire in 48.76 seconds and shading 12 seconds for his final furlong without urging around the turn.

Ever So Lucky has not started since finishing second to the undefeated Gemologist in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes nearly three months ago.

“He missed a race and a work, so I didn’t want to do too much with him this morning,” trainer Jonathan Sheppard said. “I wanted to put some long gallops into him before he breezed again and not rush him back to a work. Fast workouts are only part of prepping a horse.”

Sheppard said the seven-furlong, Grade 2 Swale on March 10 would be the most likely option for Ever So Lucky’s 3-year-old debut.

“There is a seven-furlong allowance race in the book this weekend, but that’s a little too soon,” Sheppard said.

Ever So Lucky could run into Hutcheson winner Thunder Moccasin in the Swale.

“I hate to go straight off the layoff against [Thunder Moccasin], but our horse doesn’t necessarily have to win the first time back either.”