Wednesday, May 02, 2001
Kentucky Derby notebook
Lukas: 'We'll be back next year'
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOUISVILLE — D. Wayne Lukas expressed no sorrow at the end of his record 20-year run of Kentucky Derby starters.
“We've got some nice 3-year-olds, and in the fall we feel some will surface and be pretty good,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “It just didn't fall into place in time (for the Derby). But I think we'll be back in the race next year.”
Lukas, a four-time Derby winner whose total of 38 starters is also a record, was criticized on occasion for seemingly trying to extend the streak with subpar hors es. Most galling was Deeds Not Words, who finished last in the 1997 Derby.
“There were some times when we probably could have let it fall earlier than this,” Lukas said. “But when you're a trainer, and (owners) say they want to run in the Derby, you have to step up and give them your 100-percent support.
“It isn't always something you want to do. You take the criticism and you can't defend yourself. But that's why we get the big bucks.”
FIELD SHAPES UP: Percy Hope was declared out of the Derby by trainer Tony Reinstedler on Tuesday.
“He has had three races close together,” Reinstedler said. “It isn't a long year, and for the betterment of the horse, the best thing now is to take a step back.”
With entries due today, 16 horses are in. Two more are questionable: Arctic Boy and Keats. Keats finished a disappointing eighth in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in March but rebounded to win the Lexington Stakes on April 21 at Keeneland.
OAKS ODDS: A full field of 14 fillies was entered Tuesday for Friday's 1í-mile Kentucky Oaks. The 5-2 morning line favorite is Fleet Renee, trained by Michael Richardson and ridden by John Velazquez. Flute is the 3-1 second choice.
The field, with respective odds, listed in order of post positions from 1-14:
Dancethruthedawn, 15-1; Collect Call, 12-1; Quick Tip, 15-1; Platinum Tiara, 10-1; Mystic Lady, 8-1; Fleet Renee, 5-2; Raging Fever, 6-1 (coupled entry with Tap Dance); Tap Dance, 6-1 (couple entry with Raging Fever); Mysia Jo, 30-1; Flute, 3-1; Nasty Storm, 10-1; Real Cozzy, 15-1; Morning Sun, 50-1; Latour, 15-1.
HALL OF FAME: Champion runners Holy Bull and Paseana; veteran jockey Earlie Fires, and trainer Richard Mandella have been elected to the racing Hall of Fame. They join horse of yesteryear winner Maskette as inductees for 2001, the Hall announced Tuesday.
Holy Bull was voted 1994 horse of the year as a 3-year-old. Paseana, elected in the contemporary female category, was the Eclipse Award champion of the older female division in 1992 and '93. Fires, a prominent rider for 36 years, had won 6,136 races and earned more than $77million through 2000. Mandella had won 1,447 races and earned more than $80million through last year.
Maskette was elected in the horse of yesteryear category. Racing historians regard her as the champion 2-year-old filly of 1908 and best 3-year-old filly of '09.
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Kentucky Derby notebook
