Lukas saddles top contenders in Iroquois, Pocahontas

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."

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