The presence of Be Gentle would significantly strengthen an already strong hand for the Golden Rod. Lukas, who has won the Golden Rod a record four times, will also saddle Pocahontas Stakes winner Stellar Jayne in Saturday's race. Be Gentle counts the Debutante (gr. III) at Churchill Downs and the Darley Alcibiades (gr. II) among her three wins in six races. She was also the runner-up to Ashado in the Spinaway (gr. I) at Saratoga, but the speedy daughter of Tale of the Cat finished 11th after a rough start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
Meanwhile, trainer Steve Flint was still awaiting a final decision on the Golden Rod status of Richard, Elaine and Bert Klein's Hot Mail. The homebred daughter of Souvenir Copy breezed five furlongs on Monday and Flint said she came out of her work well.
Trainer Dale Romans said that Nathan Fox and Richard Kaster's Dynaville would run in the Golden Rod. The daughter of Barkerville won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on the Churchill Downs turf Nov. 6.The well-traveled America America will apparently pass on the Golden Rod. The daughter of Mister Baileys, who defeated males in the Houston Texan Juvenile at Sam Houston Park in her 16th start of the year for owner-trainer Frank Mourier, could make her next start at Delta Downs.The prospective field for the Golden Rod now includes: Be Gentle, Stellar Jayne, Galloping Gal, Sister Star, Birthday Song, Dynaville, Hot Mail, Lotta Kim, Penny's Fortune, Turn To Lass and Sheer Luck.