Lukas Back at the Spa With Secret Oath in CCA Oaks

Maybe it is hard to believe that Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is age 86 and turns 87 Sept. 2.

Didn't it seem like yesterday that he was winning all the big races?

Winning Colors. Thunder Gulch. Grindstone. Timber Country. Charismatic. 

The list could go on and on and on.

Most people his age are in the twilight of their retirement years. Lukas just keeps going. Year in and year out, he hopes the big horse will enter his barn just once more and give him another spring, summer, and fall in the sun.

"I am (nearing) 87," Lukas said with a smile, leaning back in his chair in his office at the Oklahoma Training Track, Aviator sunglasses blocking his eyes. "I get excited about everything."

He is certainly delighted about what awaits July 23. Lukas is bringing the belle of the ball to the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Secret Oath , the leader of the 3-year-old filly division, leads the compact field of five into the 1 1/8-mile race that also includes grade 1 winner Nest .

Briland Farm's Secret Oath, winner of the prestigious Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) over Nest at Churchill Downs May 6, will attempt to keep her No. 1 status.

Lukas, always ambitious, ran his filly against the boys in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 21. She finished a non-threatening fourth. After that, Lukas stayed with his original plan, giving the daughter of Arrogate  eight weeks off with an eye on Saratoga. 

"She has more muscle. She looks better than ever," Lukas said. "She is stronger, much stronger. She is training lights out. I am extremely confident in the plan."

Secret Oath, winner five of nine starts and three of five this year, will have to contend with Repole Stables and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Nest, the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Oaks. She got beat by two lengths.

Since then, the daughter of Curlin   finished second to Mo Donegal  in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after stumbling at the start.

"You are concerned when you run against colts," Nest's trainer Todd Pletcher said. "It can potentially knock you out. In her case, she was so well prepared and well-bred for the distance, that it wasn't a hard race."

Nest has never missed the board with four wins in seven starts.

Pletcher learned the game by working for Lukas before venturing out on his own to mold his Hall of Fame career. 

Pletcher has massive respect for Lukas. If he can't win the CCA Oaks, there is no doubt who he wants to see do it. That being said, he is here to take down his former boss.

"Of course," Pletcher said. "I don't think he would expect it any other way. Secret Oath is a super, impressive filly."

This is the first summer in two years that Lukas—historically a staple at Saratoga—did not come here from his base in Kentucky. Part of it was the pandemic, another was his stock.

Lukas wants to be at this meet if he will be able to compete at the highest level.

"Secret Oath was the key to coming up here," said Lukas, who has 16 horses in his barn. "We realize the difficulty of being at Saratoga. If I were handicapping this race, I would not bet on anyone else."

Secret Oath will be ridden by Luis Saez, who rode her in the Kentucky Oaks and Preakness. Nest will have regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. back on. His brother, Jose, rode her in the Belmont while Irad was on victorious Mo Donegal. 

It is expected that the CCA Oaks will be a showdown between the two classy fillies. Also entered are Magdalena Racing Partnerships and William Klimashousky's Butterbean , trained by Kenny McPeek, Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds' Society , trained by Steve Asmussen, and Godolphin Stables' Nostalgic , trained by Bill Mott. 

"It's a very tough spot," said McPeek, whose wife, Sherri, is part of Butterbean's ownership group. "(Butterbean) is a classic overachiever, and her last two races have been amazing."

The daughter of Klimt   won a pair of races at Prairie Meadows, including the Iowa Oaks (G3) by three lengths on July 9.

"We are going to pull the trigger on her," McPeek said. "If horses are doing good, no, I'm not scared to run them. She is doing the best she has ever been, and she is a $22,000 yearling. If she picks up some pieces, we'll take it. Did you watch the Derby this year? Weirder things have happened."

Society (Gun Runner  ) has won all three of her career starts and will be making her first start in graded competition. Her speed makes her dangerous in a race that otherwise lacks pace.

Nostalgic, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro  , was 10th in the Kentucky Oaks in her last start.

Entries: Coaching Club American Oaks (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 23, 2022, Race 5

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 3:16 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Butterbean (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	8/1
2	2Society (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	121	Steven M. Asmussen	8/1
3	3Nest (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	121	Todd A. Pletcher	1/1
4	4Nostalgic (KY)	Junior Alvarado	121	William I. Mott	10/1
5	5Secret Oath (KY)	Luis Saez	121	D. Wayne Lukas	6/5