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Preakness Preview: Orb is Everyone's Target

Can the Kentucky Derby winner hold off eight challengers -- including five wheeling back from that race two weeks ago -- in the May 18 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico? Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey thinks so.

D. Wayne Lukas, Trainer and Comedian

The Hall of Fame trainer had the crowd laughing at the Alibi Breakfast, held before the Preakness Stakes, at Pimlico.

Lukas Confident in Preakness Triple Threat

All joking aside, trainer D. Wayne Lukas seems pretty confident his horses will have some say in the outcome of the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Lukas Has Two in Dixie on Preakness Day

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has three starters in the May 18 Preakness Stakes and five in races on the undercard, including Optimizer and Skyring as part of a 13-horse field for the Longines Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT).

Orb Draws Rail in Preakness Stakes

Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable's Orb, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), drew post 1 and was made the favorite for the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), second leg of the Triple Crown.

Lukas' Preakness Trio Arrives at Pimlico

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas plans a three-horse attack on Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Orb in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). His trio of Oxbow, Titletown Five, and Will Take Charge arrive at Pimlico May 14.

Mylute Confirmed for Preakness Stakes

GoldMark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm's Mylute, fifth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), is a go for the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), trainer Tom Amoss said the morning of May 11.

Orb Doing Well; Itsmyluckyday to Work

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Orb galloped 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Jenn Patterson May 10 at Belmont Park in preparation for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 18 at Pimlico.

Haskin: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Up until the five-sixteenths pole of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Gary Stevens was envisioning a fairy tale victory aboard the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Oxbow.

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Lukas Adds Third Preakness Contender

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed May 7 that Titletown Five will be entered in the May 18 Preakness Stakes. Kentucky Derby runners Oxbow (sixth) and Will Take Charge (eighth) are also scheduled to compete.

Pletcher Chasing Lukas' Lofty Derby Standards

It's easy to figure out where Todd Pletcher got the idea to enter five horses in this year's Kentucky Derby. He used to work for D. Wayne Lukas.

Six Derby Horses Made Salix-Free Debuts

A half-dozen horses entered in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) field made their initial starts without race-day Salix, but for the 1 1/4-mile classic all six will receive the diuretic.

Orb, 16; Verrazano, 14, Draw Well in Derby

Orb was made the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after drawing post 16 May 1 at Churchill Downs. Verrazano will break from post 14 and is the 4-1 second choice.

And They're Off: Kentucky Derby Edition

Lenny and Steve at Churchill Downs discuss who is in the Derby, Todd Pletcher's five, talk to D. Wayne Lukas about Oxbow and Will Take Charge, and make their picks. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm.

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Kentucky Derby News Minute - 4/30/2013

Lenny Shulman discusses which Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders appeared on the track today, when Lines of Battle is expected to arrive, and the weather forecast this weekend.

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Kentucky Derby: Oxbow & Will Take Charge

D. Wayne Lukas-trained contenders circle at the gap before working April 29 at Churchill Downs. Jockey Gary Stevens is in the irons on Oxbow.

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Lukas Contenders Turn in Final Preparations

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders Oxbow and Will Take Charge through their final pre-race moves April 29.

Kentucky Derby News Minute - 4/28/2013

Steve Haskin brings you the calm after the storm of workouts with works and new arrivals Goldencents and Itsmyluckyday on the track today. Steve also gives you the work tab for the rest of the week.

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Maker Triples, Breaks Keeneland Spring Mark

With three wins April 24, trainer Mike Maker broke the record at Keeneland for victories during the spring meet and now has a total of 19.

Broken Spell Ruled Out of KY Oaks

Calumet Farm's Broken Spell was ruled out of the Kentucky Oaks the morning of April 23 by trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Trainer Bob Baffert said Fiftyshadesofhay will also not contend.

Oxbow Heads Monday's Derby, Oaks Workers

In search of his fifth Kentucky Derby (gr. I) victory, trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent out Oxbow for a five-furlong breeze Monday, April 22, at Churchill Downs.

Brown, Lukas Work Derby Charges at Churchill

Normandy Invasion and Will Take Charge both worked over a fast Churchill Downs main track April 21 as they near their scheduled starts in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.

Lukas, Stevens Headline 'It's My Derby' Party

The public is invited to hear some of the biggest names in racing take the stage April 19 to share their fondest Derby-winning memories.

Stevens Remains on Oxbow for KY Derby

Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, who was aboard Oxbowin his fifth-place finish in the recent Arkansas Derby (gr. I), will ride him in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer D. Wayne Lukas said.

War Academy 2-1 Favorite in Arkansas Derby

War Academy has been installed as the 2-1 favorite in a field of 10 3-year-olds entered for the 77th running of the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 13 at Oaklawn Park.

Oxbow, Will Take Charge Post 'Textbook' Works

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has both Oxbow and Will Take Charge on target for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), sent his pupils out to breeze at Oaklawn Park the morning of April 5.

BC Juvenile Fillies Star Twilight Ridge Dies

Twilight Ridge, winner of the 1985 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), died April 2 at Mike Rutherford's Manchester Farm. At 30, she was the oldest living Breeders' Cup victress.

Rushaway is Crop Report's Last Derby Chance

Team Valor is sponsoring the $75,000 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway March 23, and as fate would have it, it will also use the race as a last-ditch effort to get highly-regarded Crop Report to a Kentucky Derby prep.

Will Take Charge, Oxbow Going Separate Ways

The morning after stablemates Will Take Charge and Oxbow ran first and second in the March 16 Rebel Stakes (gr. II), trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he plans to keep his charges separated for their next starts.

Will Take Charge Tops Lukas Exacta in Rebel

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is holding the hottest hand of 3-year-olds he's had in a while, and that talent showed March 16 when stablemates Will Take Charge and Oxbow finished 1-2 in the $600,000 Rebel Stakes.

Super Ninety Nine Heads Rebel Field

The $600,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) drew a competitive field of 11 sophomores seeking points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), including Southwest Stakes (gr. III) winner Super Ninety Nine.

Optimizer Handles Soft Fair Grounds 'Cap Lawn

Optimizer hopped at the break of the $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) but drew clear in the end, earning his second straight victory over the turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23.

Optimizer Targets Fair Grounds Handicap

After dominating in the Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) Jan. 26 at Fair Grounds, Optimizer will try for a second straight win on the Stall-Wilson Course in the Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 23.

Solid Field of 10 to Contest Southwest Stakes

Willis Horton's Smarty Jones Stakes winner Will Take Charge looks to continue his progress on the road to the Kentucky Derby against nine others in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes Feb. 18 at Oaklawn Park.

Optimizer Wins E.R. Bradley for Red-Hot Lukas

Optimizer went wire-to-wire in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 26 for red-hot Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won three stakes races in eight days.

And They're Off: Eclipse Awards Edition

Lenny and Steve discuss the Eclipse Awards and Oxbow's win in the Lecomte for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Plus, John Shirreffs talks about Eblouissante, half sister to Zenyatta, including how to pronounce her name.

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Lukas Could Continue Streak in E.R. Bradley

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas looks to continue his hot streak in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, sending out Optimizer in the Jan. 26 turf test for older males.

Lukas Weighs Options for Weekend Stakes Stars

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas had an anxious moment when victorious Will Take Charge stumbled while pulling up after winning the Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 21 at Oaklawn Park, but the Hall of Fame trainer said the colt is doing well.

Will Take Charge Does So in Smarty Jones

Willis Horton's Will Take Charge notched his first stakes victory Jan. 21 when he got the best of eight other 3-year-olds in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Oxbow in Lecomte, Silverbulletday is 'Magic'

Bluegrass Hall's Oxbow went wire-to-wire to win the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes by 11 1/2 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 19. Earlier, Touch Magic took the Silverbulletday.

BC Juvenile Sprint Winner Hightail Retired

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Hightail has been retired from racing, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Jan. 8.

Gal About Town Hopes for Oaks from Golden Rod

Gal About Town finished second best to Sign in the Oct. 28 Pocahontas (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, but trainer Bret Calhoun is hopeful she'll build off that effort and prove best in the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 24.

Major Stakes Horses Clash in Delta Jackpot

Goldencents and Bern Identity are among the major players in the $1 million test.

BC Winner Hightail Heads Jackpot Nominations

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Hightail heads 15 pre-entries to this year's $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III), which celebrates its 10th anniversary Nov. 17.

BC 2012 - Juvenile Sprint Press Conference

Comments from D. Wayne Lukas and Rajiv Maragh after Hightail's win in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint.

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Hightail Captures Juvenile Sprint for Lukas

Hightail, exploiting a slight opening at the rail in upper stretch, upset 1-2 favorite Merit Man in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 2, giving trainer D. Wayne Lukas his 19th lifetime victory in the Championships.

Lukas Optimistic About Optimizer

Son of grass champion English Channel heads into BC Turf with two straight grass wins.

Optimizer Continues Climb With Kent Score

Bluegrass Hall's homebred Optimizer continued his climb through conditions on the turf with a powerful 4 1/4-length win in the $200,625 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park Sept. 22, earning his first graded stakes score.

Daddy Nose Best Heads Hall of Fame Stakes

Trainer Steve Asmussen has switched gears with Daddy Nose Best, attempting to take the colt from Triple Crown contender to quality turf runner in the $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame

Pensioned California Stallion Houston Dies

Houston, a high-priced sale yearling who developed into a multiple graded stakes winner, died April 12 from the infirmities of old age at Ren-Mar Thoroughbreds near Temecula, Calif.