Lukas sees maturation in Bravazo ahead of Pegasus World Cup

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said millionaire Bravazo appears to be sitting on a strong 4-year-old season that he will launch Jan. 26 in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

Bravazo, who won last year’s Risen Star at Fair Grounds before running second in both the Preakness and Haskell and third in both the Travers and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, has been working at his base of Oaklawn Park.

He drilled five furlongs in 1:00.60 on a muddy track Wednesday, the fastest of five moves at the distance that day. The horse has worked weekly at Oaklawn since Dec. 10, with one drill not recorded due to fog, said Lukas. He said Luis Saez has the mount for the Pegasus.

“Bravazo is doing well, and we’re definitely going to make the trip to the Pegasus,” Lukas said Thursday. “We’re pointing for that. We’ll probably go a week or so out.

“He’s maturing the right way. If I’m reading him right, he’s maturing, he’s getting stronger. With his pedigree and everything, he could have a pretty good 4-year-old year. His last two races, the two numbers were his best. We feel like he’s headed in the right direction.”

Bravazo is a son of Awesome Again who races for his breeder, Calumet Farm. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 102 for his runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap in his 3-year-old finale Nov. 23 and before that put up a 100 Beyer in the Breeders’ Cup.

Lukas said it’s to be determined if Bravazo will have a work at Gulfstream.

“I might let him a stretch his legs a little bit,” he said. “I don’t know yet.”

Lukas said he plans to personally ship Bravazo to Gulfstream.

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