Lukas Enjoying Best Oaklawn Park Meet Since 2011

Attached to a bulletin board outside his Oaklawn Park barn office is a drawing of a wet bulb thermometer Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas uses to track his victories at the 2022-23 meeting.

Lukas, 87, is going to need a bigger bulb.

Major Blue 's victory March 23 in the eighth race, a $103,000 entry-level allowance sprint for 3-year-olds, marked the 15th at the meeting for Lukas. His victory tracker, already filled in with bright red ink, stops at 14.

"We're getting the ones that can run to run," Lukas said Thursday morning. "That's what we're getting paid to do. They pay us to make them better."

Lukas has already established a single-season Oaklawn personal best for purse earnings ($1,866,604 through Thursday) and recorded his highest victory total at a meeting since 2011 when he won 27 races to secure his second Oaklawn training title. Lukas was also Oaklawn's leading trainer in 1987 with 35 victories.

Lukas' resurgence—he won seven races at the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting—coincides with more numbers and landing several new clients with deep pockets. He's also reunited with the family of the late Willis Horton (Kevin Horton), who campaigns millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Last Samurai , and another prominent Arkansas owner, John Ed Anthony.

Last Samurai represented Lukas' 350th career Oaklawn victory in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) for older horses March 18. Last Samurai is being pointed to the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses April 22.

Caddo River , a homebred for Anthony, is scheduled to run in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses April 1. Lukas' most heralded runner, 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Oath , is pointing to the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 15. She won the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares March 11 at Oaklawn in her 4-year-old debut.

"We're going to be tough all the way on out," Lukas said. "Obviously, Secret Oath, Caddo River, Last Samurai are all very live horses. We could finish up with a number of stakes winners."

Lukas said he has several candidates for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1, including Bourbon Bash  and Major Blue , who could wheel back following his front-running 1 1/2-length victory Thursday. Post positions for the Arkansas Derby and $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies will be drawn March 26.

"It just depends on how the Arkansas Derby shakes out," Lukas said. "I want to know how many are in it, who is coming, before I make any decision on that."

Major Blue represented Lukas' 351st Oaklawn victory (ninth all time) and his 4,900th in North America, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization. Lukas' North American total also ranks him ninth all-time, based on Equibase statistics.

Lukas is the special guest for Saturday's "Dawn at Oaklawn." Oaklawn handicapper/paddock analyst Nancy Holthus will interview Lukas at 8 a.m. CT on the south grandstand apron. The free program includes barn tours at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Lukas saddled his first Oaklawn winner in 1983.