Itsmyluckyday assigned high weight in Kelso

ELMONT, N.Y. – Woodward winner Itsmyluckyday was assigned high weight of 121 pounds for Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park.

Shortly after Itsmyluckyday defeated Moreno in the Grade 1 Woodward, trainer Eddie Plesa announced that Itsmyluckyday would run in the Kelso and not the Jockey Club Gold Cup. In fact, Plesa didn’t even nominate Itsmyluckyday to the Gold Cup.

Plesa noted that Itsmyluckyday is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup. It would cost Plesa and his owners $200,000 in supplemental and entry fees to run in the Classic. He said a good race in the Kelso, a one-turn mile, could open up the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile or the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 29 as potential options. It would cost $120,000 in supplemental and entry fees to run Itsmyluckyday in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

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“Whatever happens after this race, this is going to be the best road to get us there,” Plesa said.

Expected to face Itsmyluckyday in the Kelso are Bradester, Capo Bastone, River Rocks, Vyjack, and Scarly Charly.