Dublin staying home

Grade 1 winner Dublin bounced back quickly from his fifth-place finish in the Champagne, but even after a big workout Monday at Churchill Downs, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said the Hopeful winner will not ship west for the Juvenile.

"Artificial surfaces turned the Breeders' Cup upside down," Lukas said this week. "He might go out there and love it, but we'd rather not subject him to the uncertainty."

Lukas noted that, as his horses race primarily in Kentucky and New York, "I never have to run on artificial."

Dublin won the Hopeful at Saratoga by two lengths. Lukas said he was compromised by strategy Oct. 10 in the Champagne at Belmont. Dublin worked five furlongs Monday in 1:01.80, and according to Lukas he went the final quarter-mile in "22-and-change."

The defection of Dublin could open a spot for Dave in Dixie, who scored one of the most impressive maiden wins of Del Mar before he finished sixth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the Grade 1 Norfolk.

"He has to train just perfect, and if I thought it was too much I wouldn't do it," trainer John Sadler said. "He's mellow, he's relaxed, and I think he can run with these horses."

* Juvenile favorite Lookin at Lucky turned in another big workout Wednesday at Santa Anita. He broke off three lengths behind Always a Princess, collared her at the eighth pole, and cruised six furlongs in 1:11.80.

* D' Funnybone, runaway winner of Belmont Futurity and Saratoga Special, worked six furlongs Wednesday at Aqueduct in 1:13.62. Trainer Rick Dutrow said D' Funnybone would ship Nov. 3 to California, while Champagne winner Homeboykris will stay home and aim for the Grade 2 Remsen on Nov. 28 at Aqueduct.