Mystik Dan scoring the Blame at Churchill May 31. McPeek had won the race in 2023 with Rattle N Roll. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Along with 2024 Lukas Classic winner Hit Show, and McPeek’s Rattle N Roll the contenders complete final breezes for Lukas Classic
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Several top contenders for Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II) turned in their final preparations for the September Meet marquee race at Churchill Downs, including Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan, who breezed a half-mile in :47.60, and 2024 Dubai World Cup champion Hit Show, who cruised five furlongs in :59.40.
Mystik Dan, owned in partnership by 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hemby III andValley View Farm, was among the first horses on the track Saturday when training opened at 5:30 a.m. (all times Eastern). The Kenny McPeek trainee breezed with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard while completing an opening quarter-mile in :24.60 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:00, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
Shortly after, McPeek sent out Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Lucky Seven Stable’s Rattle N Roll to work a half-mile. The multiple graded stakes winner, unraced since an eighth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup more than five months ago, recorded a sharp move in :46.80 under retired jockey Robby Albarado. Saturday’s work was his third drill since returning to training, following three-furlong works of :36 on Sept. 6 and :35.60 on Sept. 13.
Hernandez has the call on Mystik Dan in the Lukas Classic from post No. 5 while Julien Leparoux has the mount on Rattle N Roll from post 3.
Nearly two hours later, last year’s Lukas Classic winner Hit Show took to the track under jockey Florent Geroux. Owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Brad Cox, Hit Show enters the Lukas Classic following another victory in the West Virginia Governor’s Cup (Listed), the same steppingstone he used before his Lukas Classic win a year ago. Oddly enough, Hit Show’s final work prior to last year’s Lukas Classic also was a five-furlong move in :59.40.
Geroux will be in the irons for Saturday’s race from post 2.
All seven contenders for the Lukas Classic are now on-site at Churchill Downs or its Trackside Louisville training center. The final arrival was Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Disarm, who shipped from Saratoga earlier this week. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the four-time winner went a half-mile in :48.60 Sunday morning.
The 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic is the featured 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. with the Lukas Classic field scheduled to go to post at 5:29 p.m.
The lineup for the Lukas Classic
The Lukas Classic honors the iconic Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who passed away in late June at the age of 89. Lukas was a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and conditioner of 26 Eclipse Award-winning champions.
His widow, Laurie Lukas, will be on hand to present the trophy to the victor.
Saturday also is Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Churchill Downs. Several leading aftercare organizations will be on-site to showcase their work in re-training and re-homing retired racehorses.
Saturday’s card also includes the 33rd running of the $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes (GIII) in Race 8.
For more information about Lukas Classic Day and the remainder of the Churchill Downs September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
Champion Immersive Bounces Back With 93 Brisnet Speed Rating In Seneca
Godolphin’s champion filly Immersive bounced back to the winner’s circle Saturday in the $173,700 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs while earning a 93 Brisnet Speed Rating, her fastest figure since a 99 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).
Ridden by Florent Geroux for trainer Brad Cox, Immersive ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.64 while leading gate-to-wire.
In other stakes action from Saturday’s card, Godolphin’s Ragtime earned a 92 Brisnet Speed Rating for her come-from-behind win in the $300,000 Dogwood presented by Resolute Racing (GIII); Valene Farms’ Smoken Wicked earned a 96 Brisnet Speed Rating in the $269,000 Harrods Creek; and Lance and Steve Kinross’ Brotha Keny ran a 93 Brisnet Speed Rating while defeating Chunk of Gold by 1 ½ lengths in the $275,000 Bourbon Flight.
DOWN THE STRETCH … … ….. …..
Sunday’s nine race program got underway at 12:45 p.m. and featured an $84,867 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot that spanned Races 4-9. …
TwinSpires is offering players a $3,000 Hit It & Split It promotion for Sunday’s $3 Late Pick 3 beginning in Race 7. For more information and to opt into the promotion, visit www.twinspires.com/bet/offers. …
Following dark days Monday and Tuesday, the final week of the September Meet resumes Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
