The
final work for a probable contender for Saturday’s $750,000 Toyota Blue
Grass (G1) came Tuesday morning at Keeneland when Augustin Stable’s Ever So Lucky breezed five furlongs in :57. Julien Leparoux, who will ride Ever So Lucky in the race, was aboard.
“I
told (Leparoux) to set him down a little bit because he’s going to run
the longest distance of his life and he needs to get a little bit
tired,” trainer Jonathan Sheppard said about Ever So Lucky, a colt by
Indian Charlie. “The track’s lightning (fast), and the time doesn’t
really mean anything. But I was very pleased with the way he did it.
Julien did a good job.”
Clockers
caught Ever So Lucky in fractions of :11.80, :22.80, :34.20 and :45,
out six furlongs in 1:09 and out seven furlongs in 1.23.20.
The
move was the second at Keeneland for Ever So Lucky, who breezed five
furlongs in :59.40 a week ago. He worked in company that time.
Ever
So Lucky has had several setbacks in his training and racing schedule,
including grabbing a quarter in his right front foot. He recently has
been training in a bar shoe, but will wear a regular shoe for the Toyota
Blue Grass.
Sheppard said all appears to be well now for Ever So Lucky.
“Knock
on wood,” he said. “Ever since he arrived here, his training has been
uninterrupted for the first time really since he ran at Churchill Downs
last year because he always seems to have some little bump in the road
that’s interrupted his training. I kinda feel sorry for the horse
because you bring him up to a point, then you back off him again and
it’s kind of confusing.”
Ever So Lucky will be the first starter in the Toyota Blue Grass for the Augustin Stable of George Strawbridge Jr. and Sheppard.
On
Wednesday, Keeneland will host a breakfast prior to the post position
draw for the Toyota Blue Grass in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion’s
Limestone Café. The draw begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be covered live
on TVG.