By Alan Carasso
BENSALEM, PA — Consider it a belated birthday present, Coach.
Having turned 89 less than three weeks ago, the legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas pulled yet another rabbit out of his hat, saddling GI Preakness Stakes hero Seize the Grey (Arrogate) to a victory in Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby, a result arguably more surprising than his off odds of 4.30-1 might suggest.
The $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase was only seventh to 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in April, failing to amass enough points to make the gate for the GI Kentucky Derby, but he made a Derby Day appearance in the GII Pat Day Mile Stakes, scoring a 9-1 upset. Accorded a similar chance at Old Hilltop, the gray colt made all the running to best Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) by 2 1/4 lengths.
Never bashful about running his horses, Lukas allowed Seize the Grey to take his chance in the GI Belmont Stakes, but he could muster no better than a distant seventh, and he was ruled out of the GI Travers Stakes after finishing a well-beaten fourth in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes. The conditioner told anyone who'd listen that Seize the Grey was rounding back into his spring form, and for what seems like the billionth time in his career, he was proven correct.
Favored early in the wagering at 2-1, Seize the Grey still had plenty of market support as the third choice and hit the ground running from the two hole, taking pressure from Just Step On It (Accelerate) and a three-wide 'TDN Rising Star' Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince) through an opening quarter in :23.89. The outposted Stronghold (Ghostzapper) raced very wide into the first turn and remained deep on the backstretch while tracking from midfield, while the streaking Dragoon Guard (Arrogate) pinched ground at the inside approaching the half-mile pole.
Seize the Grey continued to lead around the turn and towards the quarter pole, but he looked in some trouble as Stronghold loomed a wide threat and even stuck his head in front in upper stretch. But Seize the Grey battled back gamely down towards the inside to reclaim the lead entering the final furlong and drew clear. Dragoon Guard made good progress along the rail to complete a 1-3 finish for his much-missed sire.
“I was very confident,” Lukas insisted. “I have been that confident with him three times and all three times he won. I was very confident in the Preakness. I told my wife it was the best bet in the 20th century. I didn't tell her that today because I wasn't as confident because of the racetrack. I have never won on a racetrack that deep. When I walked out there, that damn thing was deep! I was really surprised at how deep it was and how well he handled it.”
Lukas was celebrating his second Pennsylvania Derby, having won his first with Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) at the age of 78 back in 2013.
Lukas already has the next target picked out for Seize the Grey for the first Saturday in November.
“I will give them my vote. I don't like to make decisions in the winner's circle,” he said. “I am thinking (Breeders' Cup Dirt) Mile, but a mile and a quarter is well within his scope, especially on that track. If you are ever going to get a mile and a quarter, you will get it there.”
Pedigree Notes:
Seize the Grey's stakes-placed dam, who is also responsible for the SP Shoppingforpharoah (American Pharoah), is a daughter of SW Shop Again, who was purchased by Nicoma as agent for the late Audrey Otto for $450,000 in foal to First Samurai at the 2007 Keeneland November Sale.
In the name of her Jamm Ltd., Otto bred Grade I winner Power Broker (Pulpit) and SW Fierce Boots (Tiznow), the dam of GSP Portos (Tapit). The third dam is replete with top-class runners bred and/or raced by Hobeau Farm, including GISW Miss Shop (Deputy Minister) and GSW/GISP Trappe Shot (Tapit).
Smart Shopping is also represented by the 2-year-old filly Cirque Lodge (Justify), a weanling filly by Life Is Good and returned to the latter stallion this season.
#2 Seize The Grey wins the $1M Pennsylvania Derby (GI) with jockey @jaimetorresjcky
in the saddle for Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas and @MyRacehorse.@lizzym333#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/OpcgaHABkJ— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 21, 2024
Saturday, Parx Racing
PENNSYLVANIA DERBY-GI, $1,000,000, Parx Racing, 9-21, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.89, ft.
1–SEIZE THE GREY, 126, c, 3, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Smart Shopping (SP), by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Shop Again, by Wild Again
3rd Dam: Shopping, by Private Account
($300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-MyRacehorse; B-Jamm, Ltd.
(KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas; J-Jaime A. Torres. $546,000. Lifetime
Record: 13-5-0-3, $2,415,938. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Stronghold, 126, c, 3, Ghostzapper–Spectator, by Jimmy
Creed. O/B-Eric & Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato.
$182,000.
3–Dragoon Guard, 124, c, 3, Arrogate–Filimbi, by Mizzen Mast.
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
$91,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, HD, 2. Odds: 4.30, 5.20, 2.50.
Also Ran: Uncle Heavy, Unmatched Wisdom, Doc Sullivan, Timeout, Who's the King, Lonesome Boy, Protective, Just Step On It.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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