Trainer David Walters has been regarded as something of a ladies man.

No, not that sort of ladies man – but as a trainer of fillies and mares. Walters has trained plenty of good distaff runners, including three different winners of the West Virginia Breeders’ Classics Cavada in Cuppa Mocha Mojo, Carnival Chrome and Longfield Star, and WVBC Distaff winner Devonspaintedlady.

His latest budding star, however, is a boy. Sophomore gelding Life Is Daily, by Irish War Cry, is the second foal out of the Walters-trained 2015 Cavada heroine Cuppa Mocha Mojo, who enjoyed a similar fast start to her career for the same connections, Walters and owner-breeder Terry Catlett.

Cuppa Mocha Mojo won the first five starts of her career, including a 12-length romp at first asking against maiden special weight foes. She recorded her first and only stakes triumph when taking the Cavada the following year and concluded her career with seven wins and nearly $220,000 banked from 17 starts.

“Other than their records, I don’t think they really have a lot in common,” Walters said of Cuppa Mocha Mojo and Life Is Daily, who is now 2-for-2 in his young career. “They both were well mannered, and they both skipped their two-year-old season. She got a little later start than he did, but there’s not many races for straight three-year-olds up here.”

Following a series of solid workouts, Life Is Daily was made the 8-5 favorite under jockey Fredy Peltroche for his June 28 bow. He lived up to that billing when he gained command down the backside then widened his advantage through the lane to win by 5 ½ lengths over stablemate Captain Hallett.

Granted, his debut triumph may not have been quite as eye-opening as his dam’s since the margin of victory was essentially half as much. But it gave Walters an indication that the Irish War Cry offspring could make his presence known against winners.

Four weeks later while stretching out for the first time and facing winners in a state-bred allowance, Life Is Daily again lived up to his role, this time as the 1-5 favorite. He gained command through the clubhouse turn and gradually widened his margin to nearly eight lengths while stopping the timer in 1:18.89 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. Roughly 30 minutes earlier the four-year-old Ozone, now an eight-time winner, prevailed handily in a two-turn starter/optional claiming event for older runners while getting the same distance in 1:19.48.

“I don’t know how much the track can change in a half-hour, but I thought it was impressive that he went a few ticks faster than Ozone, who’s older,” Walters said. “I don’t know, maybe there was a little more wind at my horse’s back for his race. But I wanted to find out how well he would do going two turns and stretching out off of one race, and he passed that test. I mean, he’s still got a lot to prove. We didn’t really catch a tough bunch that night.”

Walters said that Life Is Daily likely will make his stakes debut in the $75,000 Russell Road Breeders Classic’ for three-year-olds on the annual West Virginia Breeders’ Classic night program here on October 11.

“He’ll make one more start before the Classics,” said Walters, who arrived this week one win shy of 1,600 in his career from nearly 8,800 starters. I think he still has a lot to prove to be compared to his mother. She was a really good mare around here. She had one previous foal, but it did not make it to the races. He’s definitely had a good start to his career like she did, but he’s still got something to prove.”