Lukas has quartet for Kentucky Cup

Going Wild will seek to give Lukas yet another Kentucky Cup win (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled a record 14 Kentucky Cup winners, will be a

presence once again in Turfway Park's Kentucky Cup Day of Champions. The Hall of

Fame trainer will saddle four runners on Saturday, including Oaklawn H. (G2)

winner GRAND REWARD (Storm Cat) in the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G2). The

fourth foal out of champion Serena's Song (Rahy), Grand Reward has raced mostly in

sprints since winning the Oaklawn in April and may appreciate the added ground

on Saturday.

"Running Grand Reward at a mile and one-eighth is more in line with his race

in the Oaklawn Handicap," Lukas assistant Sebastian "Bas" Nicholl said. "He was

very impressive that day."

A full field is expected for the Classic, which highlights five stakes races

from the Florence, Kentucky, oval.

Lukas will also be represented by GOING WILD (Golden Missile) in the Kentucky

Cup Sprint (G3), SHORT CIRCUIT (Lemon Drop Kid) in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile

(G3) and FAST DEAL (Grand Slam) in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Steve Asmussen, who leads the nation with 339 wins through Tuesday,

registered his first Kentucky Cup victory in 2004 with Punch Appeal (Successful

Appeal) in the Juvenile Fillies and will send out a pair this year in LUNARPAL

(Successful Appeal) and CAB (Trippi). The former owns a four-for-five career

mark but will be making his first start this season in the Sprint. Cab exits a 5

3/4-length maiden win at Saratoga and will be ridden by Pat Valenzuela in the

Juvenile.