Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas used an old-school approach to reach a milestone Saturday at Oaklawn.
Lukas recorded his 50th career Oaklawn stakes victory when Last Samurai captured the Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles under Cristian Torres. Owned by Willis Horton Racing (Kevin Horton), Last Samurai was running just three weeks after finishing fourth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
“Had a good work in between,” the legendary Lukas, 87, dead-panned moments after the Razorback. “I sometimes think that 21 days is ideal, if they come back good. I never shied away from 21 days in a major race. It may be old school, but it worked.”
Wheeling a horse back in a week, two weeks, or three weeks was common decades ago. But horses, particularly the caliber of Last Samurai, are campaigned much less frequently in today's climate. Last Samurai concluded his 2022 campaign with a runner-up finish to Bal Harbour in the Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 17 at Oaklawn. After traveling to Florida for the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus, Last Samurai returned to Oaklawn and breezed a half-mile in :51 Feb. 10 in advance of the Razorback.
“We had the long trip to Florida for the Pegasus and we came back here on a short window of time,” Lukas said. “But he trained so darn well since the Pegasus, and he finishes his works a lot better and I thought we had a pretty good chance today to pull this off.”
Last Samurai ($18.80) received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 105 for his 1 ½-length victory over favored West Will Power in the Razorback. Last Samurai covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in a meet-best 1:42.19. The Razorback is a major local prep for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 22. Last Samurai won the 2022 Oaklawn Handicap for trainer Dallas Stewart and Horton's father, Willis, who died last fall. Last Samurai also won the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds in 2021 at Oaklawn.
Oaklawn's final major prep for the Oaklawn Handicap is the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles March 18.
“We'll see him in the Essex, that's for sure, and then right on down the line,” Lukas said. “You know me. I don't dodge many of them.”
Last Samurai, a 5-year-old son of Malibu Moon, has a 5-4-4 record from 23 career starts and earnings of $1,607,639.
Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen holds the Oaklawn record for career stakes victories by a trainer with 98.
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