Legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is not done writing his storybook career just yet. At 87 years young, Lukas still has plenty of high-caliber horses to showcase his talents at the upcoming Saratoga Race Course summer meet, which starts Thursday.
For the first time since 2019, Lukas, a six-time leading trainer at the Spa, will have an expanded presence at Saratoga Race Course. He will have 16 stalls on the Oklahoma backstretch where he is sure to be seen out on his pony every morning during training hours. Among the squad Lukas is bringing to Saratoga is Briland Farms' Secret Oath, the winner of this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“We're excited about being back,” said Lukas. “We've got Secret Oath coming in that group and we have a couple of 2-year-old colts that we think can run. We could have a decent meet. We're thrilled about being back up there. More importantly, we've tried to develop quality horses that we can bring to Saratoga.”
Secret Oath, an Arrogate filly, provided Lukas with his fifth Kentucky Oaks victory and his first since Overbrook Farm's Seaside Attraction captured the lilies in 1990. Fourth in the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico last out, Secret Oath has been training forwardly at Churchill Downs and is on target for the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 23. The prestigious nine-furlong test has been won by Lukas twice, the most recent being in 1989 with champion Open Mind.
A winner of Oaklawn Park's Martha Washington and Grade 3 Honeybee earlier this year, Secret Oath faced colts for the first time when third in the Arkansas Derby(G1) in April ahead of her Kentucky Oaks conquest.
“Secret Oath is doing absolutely super. She is really, really doing well. We couldn't be happier with her,” Lukas said. “What happened with her is she was kind of a gangly filly that didn't fill out her frame. She's filled in and looks really good now. She's putting it all together and she's really getting stronger. I love the way she's coming around and have been really pleased with her lately.”
Lukas could get things started off right on opening day Thursday when he saddles BC Stables' Summer Promise in the $175,000 Schuylerville (G3) for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track. The daughter of Uncle Mo is a half sister to Grade 1-winner and producer Creative Cause, Vexatious, winner of the Grade 1 Personal Ensign in 2020, and graded stakes winner Destin. All are out of the prolific Grade 1-winning millionaire Dream of Summer.
He also added that Aaron Sones and Julie Gilbert's Ethereal Road, winner of the Sir Barton on May 21 at Pimlico, will target the $600,000 Jim Dandy (G2) on July 31.
Lukas has plenty of fond memories at the Spa, including his Hall of Fame induction in 1999, the same year he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with eventual Horse of the Year Charismatic.
He saddled Eugene Klein's Lady's Secret to a victory against colts over muddy going in the 1986 Whitney en route to Horse of the Year honors. Eight years later, he campaigned Flanders to a championship-earning juvenile season, winning the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga for the late William T. Young.
Lukas' other Saratoga accolades include winning three runnings of the Travers: Corporate Report [1991], Thunder Gulch [1995] and Will Take Charge [2013], two Whitneys, two Alabamas, and eight wins in the Hopeful.
“Every year up there is a special event and a special time,” Lukas said. “Every one of them has been excellent for us. I think the year I got into the Hall of Fame was a pretty special year, Lady's Secret winning the Whitney and assuring her Horse of the Year status was special, Flanders winning all three of the 2-year-old filly races in a row. These are special times and special events.”
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