Itsmyluckyday's runner-up effort in the Preakness was no surprise to his trainer (Wendy Wooley/EquiSport Photos)

Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa's Itsmyluckyday looked bright Sunday morning, earning high marks from trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. for the manner in which he exited his second-place finish behind Oxbow in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

"On a 1-to-10 scale, 10-plus," Plesa said.

Itsmyluckyday, who had finished 15th over the sloppy Churchill Downs track in the Kentucky Derby, rebounded with a strong showing at Pimlico. The son of Lawyer Ron, who was forwardly placed in fourth as Oxbow set a comfortable pace along the backstretch, kicked in through the stretch but could get no closer than 1 3/4 lengths to trainer D. Wayne Lukas' sixth Preakness winner.

"I wouldn't take anything away from Wayne's horse, but they went the half in 48-and-change. That's pretty much walking. Did that help his horse? Absolutely. Did it hurt my horse? Absolutely," Plesa said. "I won't say anything other than I wish the pace would have been quicker."

Plesa said Itsmyluckyday's dismal Derby showing did nothing to undermine his confidence in his colt's abilities, but he was happy that the Kentucky-bred got a chance to prove his critics wrong.

"Everybody was throwing him out because he couldn't get the distance and he ran a lousy race. I hate to use slop as an excuse, but it was a valid excuse. We all knew that," Plesa said. "Not for us, but for other people, it validates his ability.

"That's not a bad thing. They're like your children. You don't like to read something bad about your children. We know what we have. He's an exceptional horse; there's no doubt about it."

A start in the Belmont Stakes is far from a definite for the Gulfstream Park Derby and Holy Bull winner.

"It's 50-50 at best," Plesa stated.