Lukas sticking to plan for Mr. Z

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – D. Wayne Lukas said after the Indiana Derby that he was going to shorten up Mr. Z in distance and, despite having nominated him to the Grade 1 Travers, he will stay true to his word by running him in Saturday’s Grade 1 King’s Bishop at seven furlongs.

Mr. Z has run in 13 consecutive stakes around two turns, including a nose win in the $500,000 Ohio Derby and a runner-up finish to Tiz Shea D in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby.

“I’d like to try him at a mile, either dirt or grass,” Lukas said Tuesday. “When I get to Keeneland I will. Looking at the seven-eighths or mile and a quarter, I like seven-eighths.

“Plus,” Lukas added with a wry smile. “Bob and I are good friends and I don’t want to beat him and upset him.”

Of course, Lukas was referring to Bob Baffert, the trainer of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who is headed here Wednesday to run in Saturday’s Travers.