Ten years ago, Churchill Downs renamed the Homecoming Stakes the Lukas Classic to salute Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas for his “accomplishments, contributions and influence" in the horse racing industry.
On Saturday, the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) will be run for the first time since Lukas passed away on June 28 at the age of 89. His widow, Laurie Lukas, will be at Churchill Downs to present the trophy to the winning connections.
There was no fiercer competitor than Lukas (a four-time Kentucky Derby winner), and this 10th edition shapes up as one of the most competitive. For those who bet on horse racing, among the top contenders in the seven-horse field are 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (5-2 morning-line favorite) and Dubai World Cup (G1) winner and last year’s Lukas winner Hit Show (7-2).
Also entered in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up are Willy D’s (6-1), Rattle N Roll (5-1), Prince of Power (30-1), Disarm (4-1), and Banishing (3-1).
Brian Hernandez, Jr., the regular rider for Mystik Dan as well as Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, was injured in a fall over the weekend and will be sidelined for an extended period as he recovers from broken ribs and other internal injuries.
Kenny McPeek, who trains Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna, said this week he would wait until the last minute before deciding on a rider, depending on which jockey may be available based on late scratches.
Of course, it’s all about picking a winning ticket on what promises to be a memorable race – the centerpiece event at the Churchill Downs September meet.
Mystik Dan is 1-for-8 since winning the Derby by a nose in a three-horse photo finish. The 4-year-old Goldencents colt finished fourth in his last two starts, the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill and the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs.
He’s had four timed workouts since Aug. 30, the most recent coming on Sept. 20 at Churchill – 4 furlongs in 47.60 seconds (13th of 124 at the distance). He’s also 2-for-3 over the track (he won the Grade 3 Blame Stakes on May 31).
Mystik Dan, who usually stalks the pace, leaves from post 5.
McPeek also sends out Rattle N Roll, a 6-year-old son of Connect who ran fourth in the 2023 Lukas Classic and third in the 2024 edition after a year-long layoff. He makes his fourth start of 2025, the first three in the Middle East, a win, and then fifth in the Saudi Cup (G1) and eighth in the Dubai World Cup.
“He's trained exceptionally well all month," McPeek said this week. "When it came up a short field, I decided to put him in because he's so fond of this racetrack.”
Rattle and Roll, who will be ridden by Julien Leparoux, has a 9-4-1-3 record at Churchill Downs.
Hit Show, the 41-1 longshot winner of the Dubai World Cup on April 5, won the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 3 in his most recent start, which followed a fifth-place finish in the Stephen Foster.
The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride, a closer, will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 2 for trainer Brad Cox.
“He’s always been a horse who gets a lot out of his training and works well over this surface,” Cox said. “His works into this race have been very good. He moves well over this track, and he gets to run out of his own stall on Saturday".
“Our long-term goal is to try to get him back to Dubai. We’re not exactly sure what path it will take this year, but Saturday’s race is a good stepping stone to start him on that road again.”
Watch out for Banishing, trained by David Jacobson. The 5-year-old gelding comes into the race off a 2 ¼-length win in the Charles Town Classic (G2). He also has victories at six different distances from 6 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Tyler Gaffalione has the call from post 7.
Post time for the Lukas Classic Stakes is 5:29 p.m. ET.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
