Nicky Backlash

[richiebee]

If Nick Zito enters 4-5 colts in the Derby does any one else see a possible future limit on the number of animals a single owner or trainer can enter in the Derby in a given year?

[Kasept]

Doubt it RB... Lukas had 5 in 1986, right? And then 3/4 a couple of more times.. It\'s been a while since we\'ve seen this..

[Silver Charm]

1996 but we knew what you meant.

It will be interesting, the same Ky writer that trashed Lukas is a Zito guy. As a matter of fact Zito was quoted in the story as saying, \"Wayne is JUST a great recruiter\".

Zito later recanted and said he was misquoted, stating \"I said Wayne is a great recruiter\" and that is a big part of the game, end quote. And I do believe Zito.

The writer and paper had an agenda. I will bet the ranch that the same writer, a Zito guy, who trashed Lukas embraces Zito\'s five headed entry.  

Consistency, don\'t you just love it.

[jimbo66]

Big difference.  How many times did Lukas enter a horse that didn\'t belong in the race.  Many many times and he will do it again with Going Wild.

What was the last Zito horse that was entered that was a sacrificial lamb?

Which of the five from Zito don\'t belong?  Bellamy Road, Sun King, High Fly and Noble Causeway will all be among the top 7/8 favorites.  Andromeda\'s Hero might be a stretch, but I bet if he doesn\'t run well this weekend, Zito won\'t run him in the Derby.

Going Wild in the Derby is ridiculous.  Very few trainers besides Lukas would do it.

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

Going Wild is a much better horse than he has shown in his last two races. Circumstances put him in a rating mode but to me it looks as if hes a much better free running horse.  He still has to acquire the requisite earnings, but if he does so he certainly deserves to get into the race  off the Sham win and a good second to the undefeated two year old champion. He\'s probably going to have to win a big race and theres not that many left so his chances of getting in are iffy at best.

Personally, I want him in because I believe theres some counterfeit speed that probably won\'t hold up if challenged and I\'m leaning toward a horse that no one is high on right now. I heard Spanish Chestnut is leaning Derby and thats good news as well.

You can\'t restrict the number of horses a trainer runs. They run on earnings. Its fair to all. What is needed in these situations is an \"also eligible\" list. Maybe its in place. I dont\' know.

CtC

[gvido]

Let\'s not forget Baffy, who a few years ago entered a Pegram horse knowing full well he\'d scratch just to keep out a Team Valor entrant. Couldn\'t happen to a nicer bunch, LOL

[mikemd]

\"How many times did Lukas enter a horse that didn\'t belong in the race.\"

41 starters.  

charismatic (31.3/1)
grindstone (5.9/1)
thunder gulch (24.5/1)
winning colors (3.4/1)

i think, as an owner, i would take that.  i also think, as a bettor, i would take that too.

i think wayne\'s legacy should be the trainers that started out with him:

mark hennig, bobby barnett, kiaran mclaughlin, dallas stewart, todd pletcher and randy bradshaw

i\'m not a lukas apologist, i was curious what his record was after i read your post.

[Silver Charm]

>How many times did Lukas enter a horse that didn\'t belong in the race.

According to who?

You, the betting Public (see Charismatic and Thunder Gulch) or ask the respective owners.

Lets compare resumes here:

Grindstone: 1996 Derby Winner
Editors Note: 1996 Belmont Stakes Winner
Victory Speech: 1997 Charles H. Strub Hndcp
Honour and Glory: 1996 Metropolitan Mile
Prince of Thieves:1996 Ky Derby 3rd place

Bellamy Road: Wood Memorial winner
High Fly: Fla Derby winner
Sun King: Tampa Derby winner
Andromedas Hero: Sammy Davis Jr. (sic) Tampa Downs
Noble Causeway: Gulfstream 1X

(has Lukas ever run a horse at Tampa)

There are parallels, Victory Speech was acquired by Tabor early in the 3YO season and given to Lukas, just as High Fly was transferred to Zito.

My question to you is who is \"Just the Better Recruiter\" as Nikki ZZZZ was quoted as saying.

[richiebee]

Silver:

 Good point about Lukas assistants. The one part of the \"legacy\" that never got a chance is his son Jeff, due to the awful tragedy with Tabasco Cat.

 I have read that Jeff Lukas deserved a lot more credit than he got or took for developing some of the D. Wayne superstars in the late 1980s early 1990s. Some people have said that he was as good or better a horseman than his dad, and that certain of the owners preferred dealing with Jeff.

 Even Woody Stephens, who had no love lost for D. Wayne, gave Jeff a lot of credit for the way Jeff ran the Lukas operation in NY.

 I always appreciated Jeff Lukas. The longest 20 years of my life were the 10 years I worked with my dad in the family business.

Excuse the ignorance, but what ever happened to Jeff?

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

Class...in 1994 he was run down by a loose Tabasco Cat. He got in front of him and wound up crashing down on the back of his skull is my understanding. He was touch and go for a long time. From what I\'ve heard its really a miracle they saved him at all.