american pharoah | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lukas: Though ‘Slow To Develop,’ Ram Deserves His Shot In Preakness Stakes

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was back in very familiar territory Tuesday morning, sitting outside the Preakness Stakes Barn. After discussing his Preakness candidate Ram, who went to the track around 6:30 a.m., Lukas, 85, reminisced a bit about his 40-plus years of competing in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course.

Christina Baker and William Mack's Ram will be Lukas' record 45th starter in the Preakness, marking the 30th time his trainer has had at least one runner. Lukas won with his very first Preakness starter, Codex in 1980, and has been to the winner's circle five other times, most recently with Oxbow in 2013.

Lukas said that Codex was assigned that last stall on the side of the barn facing away from the track and that his horses have been in that spot every year since.

Exercise rider Jade Cunningham was up on Ram for the trip to the track Tuesday morning.

“He just galloped a mile, but I let him catch his stride through the stretch, almost at a two-minute lick” Lukas said. “Just wanted to let him feel the track a little bit and see how he handled it.”

Lukas said he thought the son of American Pharoah got over the Pimlico surface just fine but without his usual enthusiasm.

“I didn't think he had a lot of energy. He's usually pretty tough to handle, but he was quiet and pretty mannered today,” Lukas said. “I didn't do a lot with him, but I'm glad I took him out there and let him stretch his legs.”

Ram was purchased for $375,000 as a yearling in 2019. He secured his first victory on April 16 in his eighth career start, a $50,000 maiden claimer at Oaklawn Park. He followed that success with an allowance race win in the first race of the Kentucky Derby (G1) program.

Lukas said he was not surprised that it took Ram some time to emerge as a capable race horse.

“He was slow to develop, physically and mentally,” said Lukas, noting that the transformation took place over the winter in Arkansas.

The allowance win prompted Lukas to consider the Preakness.

“He's gotten good lately,” Lukas said. “For that reason, I thought he deserved the chance; that plus I like to come here. I like this place. This is a fun race. Even if you don't win, it's enjoyable.”

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Harvey’s Lil Goil Holds Off European Import Lemista In Beaugay

Following a wildly successful sophomore campaign that saw her finish third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Harvey's Lil Goil made a successful return to the races on Saturday, holding off European import Lemista to take the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay for older fillies and mares at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., by a half-length in her seasonal debut.

Winner of last year's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, Harvey's Lil Goil hadn't run since her surprise third-place finish in the 2020 edition of the Filly & Mare Turf in November at Keeneland, where she missed by just a neck to Audarya. As a 3-year-old, the daughter of American Pharoah also took the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs and finished second in the Dueling Ground Oaks at Kentucky Downs in a productive year that commenced on dirt for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Breaking from the rail in the Beaugay, run at 1 1/16 miles on Belmont's inner turf course, Harvey's Lil Goil was clearly fresh as she bounded out of the gate under Junior Alvarado, who reined her in to sit in second while longshot Platinum Paynter assumed control of the early lead and proceeded to set glacial splits of 26 seconds flat for the opening quarter-mile, 50.93 for the half, and 1:15.28 for three-quarters over the turf listed as good.

The tempo quickened appreciably as the compact field of six rounded the far turn, with the stalking Harvey's Lil Goil putting her neck in front of Platinum Paynter by the time they completed the bend, as Nay Lady Nay and Civil Union, fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, lined up to take their shots on the outside.

Lemista emerged from cover along the inside and threatened to spoil Harvey's Lil Goil's comeback party in the stretch. With an eighth of a mile to go Harvey's Lil Goil had inched away to establish a sizable advantage, but Lemista cut into that margin with every stride, making incremental progress throughout the final furlong before she ran out of ground late and had to settle for second behind her classy foe.

“There was a point around the half-mile pole where I checked to see where I was with my filly,” said Alvarado. “At that point, I figured out when I was going to pick it up. If I was going to be worried, it was going to be from someone from behind. This was a nice race for her comeback.

“She's one of those fillies that I've been waiting for this whole winter,” added the winning rider. “I'm glad she's back and that she pulled out the win today. I still feel that she wasn't 100 percent, but she was good enough to beat this group today. She's an awesome filly to have back again and I'm looking forward to this year with her.”

Owned by the Estate of Harvey Clarke and Paul Braverman, Harvey's Lil Goil notched her fifth win from 10 career starts, in the process bumping her bankroll over the $800,000 mark. She returned $4.30 on a $2 win wager as the favorite and completed the distance in 1:43.44, an effort that could set her up nicely for a prospective start in the Grade 2, $750,000 New York on the week of the Belmont Stakes, Mott said.

“It's the way we thought it would play out on paper,” said Mott. “The horse that was on the lead figured to be on the lead. When she felt those horses coming from behind her, she held them safe. It looked like she still had something in the tank.”

Making her North American debut for Brown and owner Peter Brant, Lemista ran lights-out in defeat as she nearly overcame a dawdling early pace beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. to add to her growing trophy case, which already includes a pair of graded wins in Ireland. She finished three lengths to the good of Platinum Paynter, who continued her good run on the NYRA circuit with another on-the-board finish at long odds, this time in a graded stake.

Platinum Paynter checked in a nose ahead of Nay Lady Nay on the wire, who was followed home by Civil Union and Thankful.

Claimed for just $12,500 last fall by trainer Juan Vazquez and owner Just In Time Racing, Platinum Paynter missed by a length when fourth in the Forever Together at 82-1 to close out her 2020 campaign at Aqueduct, then came back with a second-place finish at 21-1 in the Plenty of Grace on April 11 at the Big A before she outran her odds yet again in the Beaugay.

“She always tries hard,” said Luis Rodriguez Castro, jockey aboard Platinum Paynter. “We got a good second last time and now she finished third. I thought she did everything right. The other horses just fired up. I'm really happy with the way she ran. The trainer did a great job with her. She's running really well and I think she can win one of these races.”

Live racing continues Sunday at Belmont with a nine-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Gold Fever for 3-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track. First post is 1 p.m.

Starting on May 1, Belmont Park re-opened to a limited number of spectators. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.

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Lukas Looking To Even Score With Baffert In Preakness 146

Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas will attempt to win a record-tying seventh Preakness Stakes (G1) as he runs Christina Baker and Bill Mack's 3-year-old Ram in the 146th running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown next Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

A victory would pull the 85-year-old Lukas even with Bob Baffert and 19th century Mid-Atlantic training icon Robert Wyndham Walden as the winningest Preakness trainers. Lukas' first Preakness came in 1980 with his first Triple Crown starter, Codex. His last came in 2013 with Oxbow, whose Preakness victory gave Lukas the lead in Triple Crown races-won with 14, a number his pal Baffert blew by in 2015 with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who coincidentally is Ram's sire. (Medina Spirit's victory in the 2021 Derby upped Baffert's Triple Crown total to 17 wins.)

Lukas said he and Mack made the decision to run Ram in the Preakness during a phone conversation Friday evening. Ram won his second-straight race while taking the mile allowance race that kicked off the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) card at Churchill Downs. Ricardo Santana Jr. picks up the mount.

“We realize he has to step forward to be effective,” Lukas said Saturday morning after Ram trained at Churchill Downs. “But when these horses are doing well, sometimes they'll step up and do what you want them to do. I always thought this horse had potential. He was immature; he's a May 13 foal. I bought him as a yearling. I liked him then. He was a little bit feminine, which I like. I gave him plenty of time, waiting for him to come around.”

If Ram should pull off the shocker in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, it would be Lukas' biggest upset in a long career where he's made some champions by taking chances. Ram, a $375,000 yearling, won on his eighth attempt, coming in a $50,000 maiden-claiming race at Oaklawn Park.

Still, consider that Charismatic, Lukas' 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, twice ran in $62,500 claiming races, including when the horse broke his maiden on his sixth attempt, before blossoming into a dual-classic winner. Charismatic was running in stakes races, including taking Keeneland's Lexington (G2), before his Derby triumph at 31-1 odds. The Preakness will be Ram's first start in a stakes.

Lukas long has been an ambassador for the Preakness, extolling the atmosphere and Maryland Jockey Club's hospitality.

“I don't know if it's the camaraderie of all being in same barn, it just seems that people loosen up a little bit,” he said. “Take a little off their fastball for that one. They don't get so caught up like the Derby. It seems like everybody exhales after the Derby. It's just fun.

“… I don't have any grandiose ideas, but I think I could surprise some people how well this horse runs,” Lukas added. “I think the horses that ran in the Derby had a hard race. Ram had the most perfect prep for the Preakness you could have. He rated kindly behind those horses, circled them five, six wide and went off and won. Now whether that equates to a big Preakness, I don't know. But I wouldn't change a thing about his prep. I know it moved him forward. He's a better horse after that race. That entered my thinking big time…. And Santana is a strong finisher, and I think that will help me.”

Lukas said he plans to van Ram and his pony Riff to Baltimore on Monday. As usual, Lukas will be riding shotgun and keeping the satellite radio tuned to Willie's Roadhouse. Speaking of On the Road Again …

“I don't know how many more of these I'll have,” Lukas said, adding with a big smile, “But I do have a good 2-year-old.”

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: May 9, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are Sunday's horses of interest for this weekend running at Niigata and Tokyo, the site of the G1 NHK Mile Cup, featuring GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue (Harlington)'s son Grenadier Guards (Jpn):

Sunday, May 9, 2021
1st-NII, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, f, 1800m
ELEPHANTINE (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah–Sweetie Girl {Arg}, by Star Dabbler) is the first foal to race from her dam, winner of the G1 Gran Premio de Potrancas at San Isidro Racecourse in May 2015 (video, SC 7). Subsequently exported to the U.S., Sweetie Girl was covered by this Triple Crown winner in 2017 and made her way to Japan, where she foaled this filly Feb. 11, 2018. Among American Pharoah's 13 Japanese winners (from 16 starters) is G1SW Cafe Pharoah, who–like Elephantine–was produced from a Halo-line dam. B-Shimokobe Farm

5th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
ANNUNCIATION (c, 3, Union Rags–Acquant, by Giant's Causeway) has made all three of his career starts to date over this course and distance, winning his maiden at first asking before a pair of slow-starting, fast-finishing runner-up efforts at this level. A $230K Keeneland September graduate, the May 12 foal is out of a winning daughter of MGSW Social Queen (Dynaformer), the dam of 2015 GI Belmont Derby winner Force the Pass (Speightstown). A short price is all but guaranteed, but this race is his for the taking with a clean break. B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)

6th-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($132k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1800m
BONDING TIME (c, 4, Kitten's Joy–Imagistic, by Deputy Minister), purchased in utero for $30K at KEEJAN in 2017, was a $65K KEENOV foal and matured into a $210K KEESEP yearling. The full-brother to SW & MGSP Gentleman's Kitten made one appearance as a 3-year-old, finishing well down the track in an 11-furlong turf maiden at Hanshin 14 months ago and makes a switch to the main track for this allowance test. This is the female family of champion Revidere. B-Country Life Farm & Imagistic LLC (MD)

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