D. Wayne Lukas

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Though the GI Coaching Club American Oaks Saturday is short on depth, it is long on star power with Secret Oath (Arrogate) and D. Wayne Lukas taking on Nest (Curlin) and his long-ago former assistant Todd Pletcher. The rematch of the most accomplished 3-year-old fillies in the land puts two Hall of Fame trainers, very friendly rivals indeed, back together on the big stage of Saratoga Race Course. Seventy-nine days after Secret Oath beat favored Nest by two lengths in the GI Kentucky Oaks, the stars...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Like it was putting on a comfortable pair of shoes, racing oh-so easily slipped back into Saratoga Race Course Thursday for what turned into a warm, bright, feel-good season opener. The 10-race program that started during a brief rain storm before playing out in sunshine, did not deliver the expected storybook type of result in the featured GIII Schuylerville S., though. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, absent from America's oldest track for two seasons, watched Summer Promise (Uncle Mo), the 6-5 favorite, finish second...

4th-Churchill Downs, $88,002, Msw, 7-4, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.35, ft, 9 1/4 lengths. NAUGHTY GAL (f, 2, Into Mischief--Conway Two Step {SW, $102,605}, by Spanish Steps) tracked the pace before flattening out to fourth on debut here June 10 and was made the 14-5 second choice off an 8-1 morning-line quote in this spot. Dueling with favored firster Stunningly (Gun Runner) through a :22.18 quarter, the $350,000 OBS March purchase started to get the better of that rival while in hand past the three-eighths pole, took charge leaving behind a...

They may just have five 2-year-olds in their budding stable, but John Bellinger and Brian Coelho of BC Stables are off to a fast start under the expert guidance of trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Their third starter became their first winner and what a winner she was! The stable's lone filly Summer Promise (Uncle Mo) romped to 'TDN Rising Stardom' in her debut at Churchill Downs Saturday. "She is a special filly," said Bellinger, who was in the winner's circle Saturday with his wife Gina. "Wayne was in Ohio for...

A colorful pioneering family of bloodstock agents, horse traders, bronc riders and trainers has lost a mainstay in Thomas R. Bell, Jr. who passed away Friday night at age 93. "Three generations [of Bells] were responsible for two Kentucky Derby winners," said his son, trainer Thomas R. Bell II, known as Ray. Bell and his father, the World Champion rodeo cowboy Thomas R. Bell, purchased Tomy Lee, who won the 1959 Kentucky Derby for trainer Frank Childs. Ray Bell selected Charismatic as a weanling for Bob and Beverly Lewis. The...

Susan Moulton's Andthewinneris (Oscar Performance), an impressive debut winner over the turf at Keeneland in April (video), will move to the main track when he makes his second start in the Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs July 4. The bay colt had his second work over the Churchill main track Sunday, going four furlongs from the gate in :49.60 (50/95). He worked the same distance in a bullet :46.80 (1/156) June 18. "There were, and still are, a lot of options we had for him after he broke his...

It looks like legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who won the GI Kentucky Oaks this year with Secret Oath (Arrogate), may have another star filly in the making in his barn. The Hall of Famer saddled well-bred juvenile filly Summer Promise (Uncle Mo) to an impressive debut win at Churchill Downs Saturday. Dispatched as the second choice at 3-1, the $500,000 KEESEP was away well from her rail draw and seized the early advantage as heavy favorite Key of Life (Mo Town) missed the break, trailing the field early. Summer...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 1:14 p.m. Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas saddles a well-related firster in SUMMER PROMISE (Uncle Mo). Out of GISW Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer), the $500,000 KEESEP purchase is a half to Grade I-winning sire Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway), GISW Vexatious (Giant's Causeway) and MGSW & GISP stallion Destin (Giant's Causeway). TJCIS PPs

GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and GI Kentucky Derby Rich Strike (Keen Ice), sixth in Saturday's Belmont, will now be pointed towards the Aug. 27 GI Runhappy Travers S., connections confirmed Sunday morning. "I haven't really talked to the ownership group about it too much, but both of our Travers winners went through the Jim Dandy," Mo Donegal's trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday. "So to me, if he has a prep between now and the Travers, that would make the most sense." The GII Jim Dandy will...

    The TDN's 'Let's Talk'--a podcast series featuring TDN's Christina Bossinakis and TVG's on-air analyst Gabby Gaudet, offers candid discussion on personal and professional issues often faced within the racing community.    The latest edition features Hall of Fame horseman D. Wayne Lukas, who collected his latest Grade I victory with Secret Oath in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks. Wayne Lukas is no stranger to success. Inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 1999, the Antigo, Wisconsin native has spent over four decades reshaping and even defining the sport of...

The latest edition of "Let's Talk' features hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who is also joined by his wife, Laurie. Racing's power couple catch up with Christina and Gabby to talk about life, family, relationships and horses, including his latest star, GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Ethereal Road (Quality Road) has a quarter crack and will not ship to New York for Saturday's GI Belmont S., the New York Racing Association announced Monday. A maiden winner in his second start around two turns this past January, the $90,000 Keeneland September graduate ran a monster race to be second in the GII Rebel S. before finishing off the board in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. on consecutive weekends in April. Nevertheless, Ethereal Road was entered for the...