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Derby Watch: Looking at "Lucky"

While Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert have sent out as many as three or four starters in an instance in the Kentucky Derby, the simpler, smaller, more "horse sense" savvy masters of the trade have entered as few as zero. While some of his prodigies have saddled winners of the great American classic, Jonathan Sheppard has yet to send out a single three-year-old to run in it, but this year might be different.

Renown as one of the industry's best kept secrets in horse training, Sheppard's take-your-time strategy is unpopular with the owners, but has proven to be his trademark of quality over the years. Hailing from England and one of the oldest trainers in the game, the 71-year-old who trained Storm Cat might have one of the more brilliant darkhorses to enter the Derby picture with Ever So Lucky.

A strong second to the undefeated Gemologist (trained by Pletcher) in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (II) last year, the Indian Charlie colt has been training sensationally at Gulfstream Park in anticipation of a start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (II). Rated back off the lead as the favorite in his loss to Gemologist, Ever So Lucky showcased classic Indian Charlie fleetness early with the potential to stretch out a little as he stubbornly resisted the winner's advances.

Seemingly modestly optimistic in a Twitter update, Julien Leparoux is likely committed to stay aboard the colt in the prep races where the objective is to slow him down as opposed to wearing him down ahead of the Triple Crown races. If anything, I think Ever So Lucky will be a tough horse to pass and a horse to beat in the Preakness, to say the very least. His running style suggests a cruising speed higher than others and paired with bulldog tenacity, we could have another excellent front-runner here.