Coach D. Wayne Lukas doesn’t have fun his birthday like Invoice Mott, who appears to win on his birthday frequently.
But on a Sept. 2 afternoon, racing’s residing legend turned Saratoga Race Course into the setting for a festive celebration as he gained the day’s first race with Day by day Grind on his 89th birthday.
In typical Saratoga vogue, with observe announcer Frank Mirahmadi asserting the feat, Lukas’ arrival within the winner’s circle was greeted with loud applause and cries of “Blissful birthday!”
“All of them say New Yorkers are coarse and chilly, however I do not really feel that right here at Saratoga,” Lukas stated after his second victory on the 40-day meet. “It is a heat feeling. Coming by means of the gang, I am slightly gradual with the cane, however folks had been hollering. It was completely different. It was very, very heat and really gratifying.”
Whereas this hasn’t been Lukas’ most profitable keep at Saratoga, even on the tender age of 89Â his drive to succeed stays as fierce because it was 40 years in the past, when he was the game’s premier coach.Join BloodHorse Day by day
“It is coaching and successful,” Lukas stated when requested what retains him so lively at a sophisticated age. “I like getting on my horse within the mornings. If I ever lose my aggressive fireplace, you may be the primary to know, as a result of I will not be round.”
The Corridor of Famer, who has gained 4,932 races with earnings of $297 million, captured the Preakness Stakes (G1) with Seize the Gray  this yr. It was his fifteenth Triple Crown win.
The $100,000 maiden win with a 7-1 shot ($16.20) was particularly satisfying as a result of it got here with BC Stables’ Day by day Grind, a 3-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro  who was purchased for $1,350,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s choose yearling sale. The preliminary win within the colt’s 14th profession begin got here after two seconds, no thirds, and a fifth within the Sir Barton Stakes in his most up-to-date begins. He has now earned $129,077.
“We gave $1,350,000 for this man and he is made me lay awake and fear about him. It is a great duty as a result of I picked him out,” Lukas stated. “We purchased him up right here and I believed he’d be within the image greater than in only a maiden race however possibly after this one he’ll break by means of.”
With one win within the financial institution, Lukas will attempt for the cherry on prime later Monday when he sends out BC Steady’s Innovator , a 15-1 maiden, within the Hopeful Stakes (G1). In case you wish to dismiss the 2-year-old, bear in mind Lukas owns extra Hopeful wins than anybody else (eight) and it’s his birthday.
