Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, at 87, eagerly looks to the future
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas doesn't have a candidate for this week's 3-year-old classics, but, as always, the legendary trainer is looking to the future.
In his Churchill Downs office before dawn on Saturday morning, the 87-year-old Lukas was looking forward to running last year's Kentucky Oaks winner, Secret Oath, in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes on Friday, and was excited to welcome this year's 2-year-olds into his barn this week.
"I think we're really strong in the 2-year-old division," Lukas said. "We bought heavily last year in the yearling market for the first time since probably the late 90s, and I'm getting rave reviews from Ocala."
Among the newcomers, Lukas picked up five yearlings, led by a $1.35 million Medaglia d'Oro colt, at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale for John Bellinger and Brian Coehlo, who race as BC Stables. BC bought another five yearlings, alone or in partnership, at the Keeneland September yearling sale, led by a $1.15 million Quality Road colt and a $1 million Into Mischief colt.
"[They] really stepped up and bought the right horses," Lukas said. "They were very aggressive - surprised me, even. We never talked budget, but we bought three horses north of a million. That doesn't make them runners, but that means somebody else liked them and we liked them."
Meanwhile, Secret Oath won her 2023 debut in the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn before she was caught on the wire by Clairiere in a thrilling finish in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom.
"We're looking forward to running her - she's never been better," Lukas said. "She's gotten bigger, stronger - she looks like a different horse. She had that rawboned frame last year. This year, she's filling out and looking more like a mare, and she's mentally a lot different, too. She just takes everything in stride."
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