HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – American Promise earned one of the top 10 Beyer Speed Figures put up by a 2-year-old in 2024 in his last start and could be headed for a race in the 3-year-old Kentucky Derby prep series at Oaklawn Park. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Thursday that American Promise is under serious consideration for the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25, which offers points for the Kentucky Derby. American Promise won a maiden special weight over the Southwest’s distance of 1 1/16 miles in his last start Dec. 29 and for the effort earned a Beyer of 95. The May foal was making his sixth start, entering off some close calls in the maiden ranks in New York and Kentucky. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “I thought he ran very professional, very businesslike,” Lukas said. “He’s a real big horse and I’ve given him a little time to develop and find out a little about himself. “I think he’s earned his way into the Southwest. We’ll look at the Southwest – either stay in his conditions or the Southwest. But I think it’s time to get started and he showed that professionalism, so I think we’ll go to the stakes level.” American Promise is a son of Triple Crown winner Justify. He’s out of the Tapit mare Tapella, who has produced a Grade 2 winner of more than $900,000 in Hoosier Philly. American Promise was a $750,000 purchase out of the Keeneland September yearling auction in 2023 by BC Stables. “He was the one foal in the September sale that I thought looked just like his sire and he still looks just exactly like him,” Lukas said. “He had great size and he’s very correct. “There’s no doubt he’s a two-turn horse, with his size, for sure. He should improve off [his last start]. He’s a big, growthy horse and he’s just now finding out what we want him to do. “I think he’s one to watch.” Innovator to two turns? American Promise was one of two winners Lukas saddled on an Oaklawn card exclusively for 2-year-olds Dec. 29. The other was Innovator, who won a maiden special weight sprint in a sharp 1:09.81 to equal his best Beyer, an 87. Innovator, a stakes-placed colt who was second to Barnes in a maiden special weight at Churchill prior to coming to Oaklawn, is a son of Authentic. “I’m anxious to stretch him out,” Lukas said. “He’s a very quick horse, so I kept sprinting him. But I really want to stretch him out. I’d like to keep him in his conditions if I stretch him out. I want to try it once in his conditions, then maybe see which way we should go with him, keep him short or go long.” Innovator, who was a $900,000 yearling purchase in the same auction as American Promise, also races for BC Stables. Last year, BC Stables and Lukas ran second in the Southwest and Arkansas Derby with Just Steel. The horse is back at Oaklawn and working toward a return to the races, said Lukas. As for American Promise, his win at Oaklawn came by 1 1/2 lengths over runner-up Publisher. Publisher is a promising son of American Pharoah and for his effort he earned a Beyer of 92. “That horse is getting fast at the right time,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Publisher. “Obviously, we hope to get him in the 3-year-old series at Oaklawn. He’s getting stronger and faster at the right time.” Oaklawn’s series also includes the Rebel and Arkansas Derby. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.