Lukas: Colt is `very much in it'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- D. Wayne Lukas knows Proud Citizen won't be among the favorites in the Kentucky Derby. That's a sure sign the colt is worth betting on.

Lukas won his fourth Derby with Charismatic in 1999, triggering a payoff of $64.60, third highest in race history. Thunder Gulch's victory in '95 was worth $51.

"I got four pictures on the wall, and they're all long shots," he said.

This isn't one of Lukas' prolific years. The trainer known for having a deep roster -- he started five colts in 1996 and won with Grindstone -- is in Saturday's race only because Proud Citizen won the Lexington Stakes on April 20.

"I'm real pleased to be in it," he said, "and we're very much in it."

Trainer Bob Baffert is saying the same thing. Nick Zito wishes he could, too.

Baffert got in with War Emblem after Prince Ahmed Salman of Saudi Arabia bought the Illinois Derby winner for him on April 11.

Zito had two possibilities, but he's most likely to be out after Wednesday's draw because neither Crimson Hero nor Straight Gin earned enough money to qualify for an expected full 20-horse field.

Lukas, Baffert and Zito have a total of eight Derby victories in the last 14 years, including three times in which the winner nearly went on to claim the Triple Crown.

"Who would have thought this?" Zito asked. "The prince buys a horse for Baffert, Wayne wins in the 11th hour and I'm waiting on the fence, without much chance. What happened just shows how hard it is to keep coming back to this race."

Proud Citizen, Lukas' record 39th Derby starter, was seventh in the Santa Anita Derby last month before the Lexington.

"Back in January, I thought if everything went perfect I could be here and it did," he said. "I haven't done as much to get here with him. This horse has responded beyond my expectations."

Proud Citizen prompted Lukas to put the horse's name on a red, white and blue banner outside the barn. Usually that space is reserved exclusively for the names of Lukas' Derby champions.

A portrait of the U.S. flag being raised at the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks also is prominently displayed.

The signs boasting of Baffert's two Derby winners were removed during the winter and have not returned. Until the prince came through for Baffert, he was resigned to attending the Derby as a spectator.

"I was OK with it," he said. "We had Danthebluegrassman, that was our last chance. But I knew he had some limitations. He had to do something really important."

He didn't, finishing eighth in the Santa Anita Derby on April 6.

Baffert had about a dozen prospects fall off the Derby trail for various reasons, including injuries. He'll saddle War Emblem on Saturday after having him in his barn for just three weeks.

"I'm probably a lot fresher this year because I didn't have four months of worry about this horse," Baffert said. "You go crazy in this business worrying about the little things."

A year ago, Baffert trained beaten Derby favorite Point Given, who later won the Preakness and Belmont stakes and horse of the year honors.

"Last year I came in here and thought everything was in control and it didn't work out," he said. "You got to have a good horse, you've got to be aggressive, and luck plays a big part in this race."

The past two years, there's been a slight drop-off for Lukas, Baffert and Zito -- no Derby wins, and Lukas' record of 20 years with at least one starter ended in 2001.

Lukas said the end of his streak wasn't a big deal because he was busy rooting on former assistants, Todd Pletcher and Dallas Stewart, who ran Derby horses last year.

"It's always been special, but I didn't really miss it last year," Lukas said. "I was very much involved all the way through. Other than leading one over there and saddling it, I didn't feel like I was very much out of it."

Missing the Derby is disappointing for Zito, the trainer of 12 starters since 1990.

"We'll be back," he said.

 

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