Plesa plotting Derby paths for Mr. Jordan, Souper Colossal

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It looks like trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. will have a very pleasant problem on his hands this winter: trying to separate his two Kentucky Derby prospects, Mr. Jordan and Souper Colossal.

Mr. Jordan put himself in the Derby-prospect category by cruising to an impressive 4 1/2-length victory over Juan and Bina in Saturday’s one-mile Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park West. It was the third lopsided triumph in as many starts for the gray son of Kantharos, who earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure despite being geared down during the latter stages of the Smooth Air.

Souper Colossal is getting a break on the farm after suffering his only setback in four starts when finishing seventh after setting a torrid and contested pace in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Prior to that, Souper Colossal had won the Tyro and Sapling stakes at Monmouth Park by a combined margin of 11 lengths.

“I’ve got two horses I think can be top-caliber 3-year-olds,” Plesa said. “And I’m going to try to plot things out to keep them on a different path for as long as I can this winter. There are three preps here before the Florida Derby, starting with the Mucho Macho Man and including the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth. Right now, I’d expect to run one or the other in the Mucho Macho Man, more likely Mr. Jordan since Souper Colossal won’t be down here for another couple of weeks and probably will need a little more time than that to get ready.”

The Mucho Macho Man, formerly known as the Gulfstream Park Derby, is carded at one mile Jan. 3.

“Mr. Jordan came out of the Smooth Air 110 percent,” Plesa said. “I know I say that a lot, but it’s true. Mentally, physically, he couldn’t be doing any better. He surely answered the distance question, no doubt about it, on Saturday. I couldn’t be happier with all he’s done and achieved so far. Every race has been a step in the right direction, especially with his demeanor. Not that he’s a bad-acting horse. He’s just an anxious horse, but I’m very pleased with the way he’s learned to rate and settle in each of his last two races.”

Plesa also said that Itsmyluckyday, who won the Gulfstream Park Derby and Holy Bull before finishing second in the 2013 Florida Derby, arrived at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky on Monday to begin his new career as a stallion. Itsmyluckyday closed out his racing career on a disappointing note Saturday, finishing a distant ninth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

“He had a rough trip. He got jumped on in behind after the start, and his leg was blown up by the time he got back to the barn, although he certainly didn’t bring his ‘A’ game there,” said Plesa. “Maybe he knew he was going to the farm after the race and was already starting to think about the girls. He came out of the Cigar fine physically. There was no soundness issue when he left for Kentucky.”