Willis Horton's Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner Last Samurai completed his major preparation Sunday toward Saturday's $750,000 Stephen Foster (G2) but it was for new trainer D. Wayne Lukas instead of Dallas Stewart.
Last Samurai completed a five-furlong move at Churchill Downs in 1:01.40 at 7:30 a.m. (ET). The four-time winner had competed his 15 lifetime starts under the care of Stewart but was recently transferred to Lukas, along with several other of Horton's horses.
Last Samurai, a 4-year-old son of Malibu Moon, began his 2022 campaign with a seventh-place finish in the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn. He finished second behind multiple stakes winner Lone Rock in the Temperance Hill prior to his 12-1 victory in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap April 23 in his most recent start.
Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster looks to be headlined by multiple graded stakes winners Mandaloun and Olympiad.
Entries for the Stephen Foster will be taken Wednesday.
The post Stephen Foster Hopeful Last Samurai Tunes Up At Churchill After Transfer To Lukas appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
