While there are many good turf three-year-olds this year, few of them can boast the accomplishments that Laddie Luck has managed. Winning over half of his starts this year, Lad first proved himself as a top prospect in the Turf Triple Crown. After a second in the Open and a third in the Preakness Champion, the son of Valkyrie foundation mare Castle Siege cemented himself in the farm's history with a strong win in the Belmont Turf Classic. That, in itself, could have been enough. The farm could have decided to lay back and bide their time, let the colt continue to compete against fellow three-year-olds, but they had bigger plans.

Laddie Luck's first race off the Classic was the Proven Strong Stakes, where he topped a field of six horse of grade four and grade three standing. It was his last race in restricted company, because he'd well proven he was ready to take on older, stronger horses. Next came a win in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, an open field where he faced stiffer competition. He managed to top a five-horse field that that included good filly Celebrity and strong older horse World Dominion. Last in the strong win streak was the Federation Stakes, run in August, where he topped very strong older filly Melusine. After two races out of the winners circle, where he finished third and second, Laddie Luck once more struck gold in the prestigious Woodford Reserve Turf Classic. This was another five-horse field, and he once again proved his class.

And so, Laddie Luck has raced in open company since July and done incredibly well with it, which was an unusual track for a Valkyrie horse to take until this year. The only ones he hasn't been able to test his guns against are the older turf superstars themselves, who were on track in their own series. Until now. Laddie Luck has been confidently entered in the World Colt Cup, where his connections are hoping he'll finally get a chance against the best of the best in preparation to face them in the Breeders' Cup Turf at the end of the year.

When asked about his chances, Cole Mavecci had this bold statement to make: "Well, it'll depend on who shows up, won't it? We know he can beat any horse in his crop when he's on form, and I'm pretty sure he can beat the older ones too. But we won't know until we try." It sounds like Valkyrie has issued a challenge, though they will surely meet any top horses who do not run in the World Cup and qualifiers when December rolls around.