Lukes Alley Continues Comeback in Durham Cup

Melnyk Racing Stable's Lukes Alley, a winner Sept. 12 in his first start since November 2014, quickly jumps up to graded stakes company for the $150,000 Durham Cup (Can-III) at Woodbine Oct. 3.

Trained by Josie Carroll, Lukes Alley, a 5-year-old Ontario-bred horse by Flower Alley, easily won an open allowance test at 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack at Woodbine in his return. He won the Durham Cup and then the Autumn Stakes (Can-II) last fall before the long layoff.

Lukes Alley has six wins in eight starts on Woodbine's synthetic surface. He drew the outside post 7 and will be ridden by Luis Contreras, who has piloted Lukes Alley in all 10 career starts.

The 1 1/8-mile Durham Cup attracted several Canadian graded stakes winners, including two that exit the open Presque Isle Mile on the Tapeta surface Sept. 6. They are Live Oak Plantation's Florida Won (by Birdstone  ), who found room along the rail and rallied to win the $200,000 stakes, and Riordan, Kirk, and Bates' Are You Kidding Me (by Run Away and Hide  ), who finished fourth after looming a winner in the stretch.

Florida Won, who will be ridden by Patrick Husbands from post 3 for trainer Mark Casse, previously won the Seagram Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine. The Roger Attfield-trained Are You Kidding Me won two Canadian grade II stakes—the Eclipse and Nijinsky—back to back earlier this year; he will be ridden by Alan Garcia from post 1.