By Mike Kane
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas thought Naughty Gal (Into Mischief) was so good in the GIII Adirondack S. Sunday that her next start ought to be in the GI Spinaway S.
Summer Promise (Uncle Mo), runner-up in the GIII Schuylerville S. on opening day was being pointed to the $300,000 seven-furlong Spinaway Sept. 4, but Lukas said Wednesday that he was reconsidering that approach.
“I've kind of changed gears after I watched Naughty Gal run the other day and win,” he said. “I might run Naughty Gal back in the Spinaway and I'm thinking maybe of shipping Summer Promise over to Monmouth and go in the Sorority.”
The $200,000 one-mile Sorority will be run Aug. 21.
Despite a wide trip through the stretch, Holy Cow Stable's Naughty Gal prevailed by 2 1/2 lengths in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack, giving Lukas his first Saratoga graded stakes win since 2017 and 61st over all.
“I think that Naughty Gal is going to have a better chance to win the Spinaway, better chance physically to go that extra distance. They're adding half a furlong,” Lukas said. “I think it's a better fit. I always treat them all like I own them and I've got to convince the owners that it's the best thing to do. I'm leaning that way.”
Lukas, 86, is tied with Todd Pletcher for the most wins in the Spinaway with six. His most recent victory was in 1995 with Golden Attraction (Mr. Prospector). In 1984, his first season at Saratoga, Lukas won the Spinaway with Tiltalating (Tilt Up).
“I had the Spinaway plugged in for Summer Promise and the other filly I thought I could go in any direction,” Lukas said. “But after I trained and watched the two of them this last week, I think I'm going to end up with Naughty Gal in the Spinaway. I wouldn't run them against each other.”
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