Lubash to run in Kingston for seventh time

ELMONT, N.Y. – Some horses don’t make seven starts in their entire career.

The 10-year-old Lubash will run in the $125,000 Kingston Stakes for the seventh consecutive year on Monday, when he takes on fellow New York-bred stakes regulars Kharafa and King Kreesa in the one-mile turf race.

Lubash won the Kingston in 2015. He finished second in this race in 2011, 2012, and 2014 and third in 2013. Last year, he finished fourth.

“He’s still very willing, he’s happy, and he’s sound,” said Christophe Clement, who has trained Lubash since 2012. “I don’t know if he’s quite as good as he was, but he’s as healthy as ever.”

Clement said Lubash is a bit of “a peculiar horse” and that he worries about retiring him and sending him someplace where he may not get enough attention.

“We’ve been working on this for one year, trying to find a place where he could have enough attention to have a second life,” said Clement, noting that owner Lee Pivnik “is aware of this.”

“We’re going race by race,” Clement said. “As soon as he gives me a sign this is it, then it’s bye-bye.”

Tapitation won last year, but Lubash, Kharafa, and King Kreesa had won the previous three runnings of the Kingston.

In addition to Lubash, King Kreesa and Kharafa, the Kingston drew Macagone, Get Jets, Iron Power, Wicked Freud, Mark My Style, and Offering Plan.