Latest news with #D.WayneLukas
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
4 'mudders' to bet on at the 2025 Preakness who thrive in the rain
4 'mudders' to bet on at the 2025 Preakness who thrive in the rain It's looking like the storms hammering the East Coast this week may pass by post time for the 150th Preakness Stakes. That doesn't mean the damage won't already be done to the track — and that may end up being the biggest factor at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday. Fortunately, and despite the smaller nine-horse field, there are quite a few contenders who have experience on off tracks entered into the field for the second leg of the Triple Crown. WHAT'S IN A NAME? Every wacky and whimsical 2025 Preakness horse name, ranked If it turns out the track is a mess out there on Saturday, these will be the four horses to keep an eye on. American Promise Friday Odds: 15-1 15-1 Morning Line Odds: 15-1 15-1 Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: Nik Juarez Before the Kentucky Derby, the last time American Promise raced on a muddy track was back on December 29 when the D. Wayne Lukas star won a 1 1/16th-mile race at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas. On a muddy Churchill Downs track, American Promise pulled up in 16th in the Run for the Roses. Goal Oriented Friday Odds: 6-1 6-1 Morning Line Odds: 6-1 6-1 Trainer: Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Jockey: Flavien Prat Baffert's Preakness entry is starting on the rail — just like Baffert's Citizen Bull did at the Kentucky Derby — but with a much smaller field than we saw at Churchill Downs, there's less reason to worry about getting squeezed out. Goal Oriented has won the only two events he's entered, which includes a muddy race on the Kentucky Derby undercard, and carries a 109 Equibase Speed Figure on a wet track, which leads the Preakness field. Journalism Friday Odds: 8-5 8-5 Morning Line Odds: 8-5 8-5 Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy Michael W. McCarthy Jockey: Umberto Rispoli Journalism finished second on the wet track at the Kentucky Derby, putting a strong performance on late but not nearly enough to overtake Sovereignty. While Goal Oriented has the top Equibase Speed Figure on a wet track in the field, Journalism arrives in Baltimore with the top Beyer Speed Figure on a wet track (102). Sandman Friday Odds: 4-1 4-1 Morning Line Odds: 4-1 4-1 Trainer: Mark E. Casse Mark E. Casse Jockey: John Velazquez Sandman finished in seventh at the Kentucky Derby, which was the first time it took to an off track. With a Wet Equibase Speed Figure of 86 and a wet Beyer Speed Figure of 87, he'll have to prove quite a bit on Saturday.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Lukas looks to 'turn the page' on American Promise in the Preakness after a troubled Derby trip
BALTIMORE — American Promise got cut off at the start of the Kentucky Derby , then couldn't get the room to squeeze between horses down the stretch. It added up to a 16th-place finish. 'He's a big horse,' trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. 'He can't stop and start like that. It just won't work.'
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kentucky Derby 5 best bets for 2025
Kentucky Derby 5 best bets for 2025 Happy Derby Day to all who celebrate! The 151st Kentucky Derby is only hours away as we kick off the start of another chase for the Triple Crown. If today is one of the few times of year you truly pay attention to horse racing, don't worry, that's exactly why we're here. If you're not going to read a program — or pick a horse based on name alone — we've got a few other options for you to consider before heading to the betting window. Here are five ways you can find your best bet for Saturday's Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. Best of luck to those who tail (or fade)! The Favorites Journalism: The clear and consensus favorite all week long heading into Saturday was 3-1 on the Morning Line after four consecutive wins heading into the Derby. Sovereignty: Second to Journalism on the Morning Line at 5-1, he has experience racing against multiple contenders in this year's Derby. Sandman: The progeny of Tapit was the only other contender who opened on the Morning Line with odds better than 12-1. The Elite Pedigrees You might not be familiar with all of the names in the Derby field, you're more than likely familiar with some of their sires. If you want to bet on horses who descend from past Churchill Downs consider these colts. American Promise: D. Wayne Lukas trained the progeny of Justify, which won all three legs of the Triple Crown in 2018 as well as the Santa Anita Derby. Luxor Cafe: The progeny of another Triple Crown-winner in American Pharoah was 15-1 on the Morning Line. Publisher: Also sired by American Pharoah and trained by Steven Asmussen. Tiztasic: The progeny of Tiz The Law, who finished second to Authentic at the 2020 Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes a few weeks later. The Top Trainers If you care more about who trained the horse than anything else, here are your best options. Citizen Bull: Bob Baffert Neoequos: Joseph Saffie Jr. American Promise: D. Wayne Lukas Publisher: Steve Asmussen Tiztastic: Steve Asmussen Render Judgment: Kenneth McPeek The Famous Owners Flying Mohawk: Owned by former MLB star Jayson Werth Render Judgment: Owned by the late Toby Keith The Long-shots Just in case there's another Rich Strike moment at Churchill Downs. Neoequos: Opened 30-1 on the Morning Line and was 41-1 on Saturday morning. Owen Almighty: Opened 30-1 on the Morning Line and moved to 39-1. East Avenue: Opened 20-1 on the Morning Line and moved to 37-1.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
American Promise trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
American Promise trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Kentucky Derby 2025 contender American Promise train at Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby 2025 contender American Promise trains at Churchill Downs April 23. Trainer is D. Wayne Lukas. Jockey Nik Jaurez slated to ride. American Promise will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Virginia Derby on March 15 American Promise trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby four times, most recently in 1999 American Promise is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September. The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 26. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. American Promise will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Virginia Derby on March 15 at Colonial Downs. He currently ranks 14th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 55. Color: Chestnut. Bred in: Kentucky. Sire: Justify. Dam: Tapella, by Tapit. Price tag: $750,000 at 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Owner: BC Stables (John Bellinger, Brian Coelho). They're 0 for 1 in the Derby, finishing 17th with Just Steel last year. Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas. He's 4 for 50 in the Derby, winning with Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999). Jockey: Nik Juarez. First Derby. Record: 2-1-1 in nine starts. Career earnings: $444,874. Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 55 (No. 14). Last race: Won Virginia Derby on March 15 at Colonial Downs by 7 ¾ lengths over Render Judgment. Running style: Near the pace early. Notes: American Promise needed six races to break his maiden, finally doing so Dec. 29 at Oaklawn Park. That chase included three races at Churchill Downs, where American Promise finished eighth, second and fourth. He finished off the board in a pair of graded stakes earlier this year — seventh in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park and fifth in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. … The 89-year-old Lukas had missed the Kentucky Derby every year from 2019-23 but broke the skid last year with Just Steel. … Sons of Justify did not fare well in last year's Kentucky Derby, with Just Steel finishing 17th and Just a Touch finishing 20th in the 20-horse field. What they're saying: 'He's maturing and doing so well that I think I can train him without subjecting him to another race,' Lukas said of the time off since winning the Virginia Derby. 'You never know how that race is going to go. You think it's going to move him forward, but it isn't a cinch. There are things that can happen.' Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032. The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms. You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock. Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. More horse racing: Set for second Kentucky Derby, St. Xavier grad Whit Beckman hopes for better racing luck Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@ Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ. This story was updated to add a gallery.
NBC Sports
01-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Kentucky Derby 2025 preview: American Promise
American Promise, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Nik Juarez, has the attention of Drew Dinsick, who thinks the Justify descendant has a real shot at Kentucky Derby victory.
