Lukas Plans to Run Saratoga Special Runner-Up on Grass

The next stop for Les Wagner's Market Street  could very well be on the grass.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he wants to run his runner-up in the Aug. 12 Saratoga Special Stakes (G3) in the $175,000 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) on the grass at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 31.

Lukas said he has never worked the son of Street Sense   on the grass before nor does he plan to.

"I feel that the way he runs, he will be ok," Lukas said Aug. 17 while sitting in his office at the Oklahoma Training Track.

Market Street was bought by Wagner for $275,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling sale. He has run three times. Before coming to Saratoga, he broke his maiden by 3 3/4 lengths at Ellis Park on June 29. 

Market Street was sixth in Saratoga's Sanford Stakes (G2) before the second in the Saratoga Special.

"We're not smart enough to have a crystal ball to tell us whether they like it or not," Lukas said about Market Street's switch to the lawn. "That's always a conversation among trainers. I always say, 'I don't think anyone knows until they try it."

Another Lukas youngster, Seize the Grey , is entered in the $150,000 Skidmore Stakes, a 5 1/2 furlong sprint on the Mellon Turf course Aug. 18. Seize the Grey, a son of Arrogate  owned by MyRacehorse,  broke his maiden by 1 3/4 lengths on a sloppy track at Saratoga July 29.

Lukas also said he is pointing BC Stables Just Steel , a maiden winner at the Spa Aug. 5, to the  $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) Sept. 4, closing day. Just Steel is a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify  .

Lukas has started 25 horses this meet and has two wins and nine seconds. Thirteen of his starts have been with 2-year-olds and both of his wins have come with the youngsters; he also has five seconds.

Before the meet ends, he hopes to unleash some more babies.

"There a couple of maidens yet to come," he said.