No Derby Horse for Lukas
Dateline: 04/30/01
For the first time since 1980, trainer D. Wayne Lukas won't have a horse running in the Kentucky Derby. For the last 20 years he has had at least one entrant per year with a total of 38 starters with 4 winners, 0 seconds, and 5 thirds. In addition to this he has also had five Preakness winners and four Belmont winners. This year he started out with 21 Triple Crown nominees, but one by one they fell by the wayside due to injury or poor performance. His last hope was Turnberry Isle in the Lexington Stakes on April 21st, but her ran poorly leaving him without a Derby horse this year.
"I wish I were in the race, but I don't have it," said Lukas. While he may not have it this year, two of his former assistants will carry on his tradition. Todd Pletcher will saddle both Balto Star, winner of the Arkansas Derby and the Spiral Stakes, and Invisible Ink, third in the Florida Derby and fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes. Dallas Stewart will saddle Dollar Bill who was third in the Blue Grass Stakes last out.
The fact that he could keep such a run of Derby entrants alive for so many years is a testimony to his ability to select high quality young horses and bring them to a peak at the right time. While this year just isn't his year, don't count him out for future runnings!
D. Wayne and the Derby
| Year | Horse | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Partez | 3rd |
| 1982 | Muttering | 5th |
| 1983 | Marfa | 5th |
| Balboa Native | 9th | |
| Total Departure | 20th | |
| 1984 | Life's Magic | 8th |
| Althea | 19th | |
| 1985 | Tank's Prospect | 7th |
| 1986 | Badger Land | 5th |
| 1987 | On The Line | 10th |
| War | 13th | |
| Capote | DNF | |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | 1st |
| 1989 | Houston | 8th |
| Shy Tom | 10th | |
| 1990 | Land Rush | 7th |
| Power Lunch | 10th | |
| Real Cash | 11th | |
| 1991 | Corporate Report | 9th |
| 1992 | Dance Floor | 3rd |
| Al Sabin | 6th | |
| 1993 | Union City | 15th |
| 1994 | Tabasco | 6th |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | 1st |
| Timber Country | 3rd | |
| Serena's Song | 16th | |
| 1996 | Grindstone | 1st |
| Prince of Thieves | 3rd | |
| Editor's Note | 6th | |
| Victory Speech | 10th | |
| Honour and Glory | 18th | |
| 1997 | Deeds Not Words | 13th |
| 1998 | Cape Town | 5th |
| 1999 | Charismatic | 1st |
| Cat Thief | 3rd | |
| 2000 | Exchange Rate | 12th |
| High Yield | 16th | |
| Commendable | 17th |
Won six consecutive Triple Crown races from 1994 to 1996: Tabasco Cat in the 1994 Preakness and Belmont, Thunder Gulch in the 1995 Derby, Timber Country in the 1995 Preakness, Thunder Gulch again in the 1995 Belmont, and finally Grindstone in the 1996 Kentucky Derby.
Triple Crown quick links:
- Kentucky Derby Contenders - lots of info on each
- Derby Tickets and Seats - how to get them
- Derby Weather Forecasts - how to get them
- Derby Poll - Who do you think will win?
- Triple Crown Trail (updated weekly)
- Free Past Performances from DRF (updated weekly)
- Churchill Downs Future Wager (final odds for all pools)
- Experimental Free Handicap
- Dual qualifiers and dosage info
- Triple Crown Nominees
- Media Picks from the Courier Journal
- Injury Report
- Horses not likely to make the Derby
- Road to the Roses Fantasy Challenge Contest
- DRF Derby Coverage
- Triple Crown Mania from the Blood Horse
- Road to the Triple Crown from Thoroughbred Times
- Triple Crown Index - the master list with even more info
Photo by Cindy Pierson. Weather banner courtesy of Weather Underground.
