Return to Today's Full Edition

Phone: (800)354-9206
edit.staff@brisnet.com

ARCHIVES
 
 Printer Friendly Page 

Lukas saddles top contenders in Iroquois, Pocahontas

Lukas, who turned 79 on September 2, has a couple of exciting two-year-old prospects racing this weekend at Churchill Downs(Coady Photgraphy)

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will send out a pair of promising two-year-olds Saturday with Willis Horton's Take Charge Brandi in the Grade 2 Pocahontas and Zayat Stables LLC's Mr. Z in the Grade 3 Iroquois.

Although Lukas has captured 73 stakes wins at Churchill Downs in his esteemed career, he has sent 21 starters to the Iroquois in past years and never won.

The 79-year-old conditioner Lukas has a strong chance with Mr. Z, the 5-2 morning line favorite who took his maiden debut under the Twin Spires on June 28, and followed it with back-to-back runner-up efforts in the Grade 3 Sanford and Grade 2 Saratoga Special at Saratoga.

"He ran well at Saratoga this summer and we've been pleased with him," Lukas said. "We chose this spot because it's two turns and because it's a 'Win and You're In' race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Running him in the Hopeful at Saratoga would have been too soon for him to come back."

Mr. Z will have regular rider Corey Lanerie aboard and will break from post position two in Saturday's Iroquois.

Take Charge Brandi has been on a similar path as Mr. Z, having won her maiden debut at Churchill and running in back-to-back stakes at Saratoga.

She finished second in the Grade 3 Schuylerville and followed that with a fifth-place effort in the Grade 2 Adirondack.

"It's the same type scenario with Take Charge Brandi," Lukas said. "We're confident that she can go the distance and again the 'Win and You're In' for the Juvenile Fillies is significant."

Take Charge Brandi also will have Lanerie aboard and breaks from post eight in the Pocahontas.

"I think both of my horses should benefit from going 1 1/16 miles," Lukas added. "They've both won on this track before, so we're in good shape and looking forward to Saturday."

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com


 

CLICK HERE


Send this article to a friend