Todd Pletcher

Some of the most influential people in the life of Wayne Lukas-and some of the people for whom he was the most influential--took part in a special TDN Writers' Room podcast in order to pay tribute to `the Coach,' who passed away Saturday night at the age of 89. Lukas worked almost up until his last days in the sport which he revolutionized upon his arrival in the early 1980s. Before it was over, he would win 20 Breeders' Cups, 15 Triple Crown races, five Eclipse Awards as leading trainer,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS--After Baeza's (McKinzie) lackluster third-place finish in the GI Belmont Stakes last month, trainer John Shirreffs wasn't convinced his horse was as bad as he showed at Saratoga Race Course. Shirreffs is keeping the faith and will ship Baeza back to Saratoga for a date in the $500,000 GII Jim Dandy on July 26. "It seems like all roads lead to Saratoga," Shirreffs said by phone from California Wednesday afternoon. "So far, it's the only race that has been under discussion with [owners] Mr. [Lee] Searing and Mr. [Robert]...

On this week's TDN Writers' Room, we pay tribute to D. Wayne Lukas. Friends and mentees, including Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert, Kiaran McLaughlin and Gary Stevens, share their favorite memories and stories of 'The Coach.'

Jose Sarinana has checked off a number of firsts with Happy Saver. The longtime assistant manager at Hagyard Farm, Sarinana foaled the future Grade I winner and seven years later was the breeder of the stallion's first foal. That foal, a filly out of Sarinana's only broodmare Planeta (Giant's Causeway), will become the stallion's first yearling to sell at auction when she goes through the ring as hip 4 in the early minutes of the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale next Tuesday. She is the lone horse in the Sarinana...

Those who have been following racing for, oh, 10 years or less, they may not quite understand the impact Wayne Lukas had on horse racing or how much he changed what it meant to be a successful horse trainer. The Wayne Lukas who was still training when his 90th birthday was just around the corner transformed into your favorite uncle or grandfather. He became the sport's elder statesman. There was a sweet and gentle side to the man that everyone started calling "Coach" because he was once a high school...

One of the most iconic personalities in horse racing and a man that helped transform the face of the industry over the past half a century, D. Wayne Lukas passed away at his home in Louisville Saturday night from complications from a severe infection. He was 89. Lukas is survived by wife Laurie, grandchildren Brady Wayne Lukas (Dani) and Kelly Roy (David) and great grandchildren Johnny Roy, Thomas Roy, Walker Wayne Lukas and Quinn Palmer Lukas. A statement from Lukas's family released Sunday, read, "It is with heavy hearts that...

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been hospitalized in Louisville, Kentucky and will not return to training, according to Lukas family members. In a release sent out by Churchill Downs, the family shared that Lukas had been battling a severe infection that had worsened his condition, and has reportedly declined an aggressive treatment plan in favor of returning home to spend his remaining time with his loved ones. In a succession plan put in place by Lukas Enterprises, Inc., horses previously under Lukas's care have been transferred to...

Barn 28 on the Belmont Park backstretch has been placed under a precautionary 14-day quarantine by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) until further notice due to a positive case of strangles in the barn. NYRA, the New York State Department of Agriculture and the NYSCG remain in contact should the need arise for further precautionary measures. Barn 28 houses horses trained by George Weaver, Todd Pletcher and Rudy Rodrigruez and the quarantine is effective immediately. The Weaver-conditioned 2-year-old gelding Mo Curls was...

7th-BAQ, $85k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1m, 4:10p.m. ET On the far outside for this maiden contest is ALIDADE (Tapit), a $350,000 KEESEP purchase by Harrell Ventures and trained by Todd Pletcher. A full-sister to GSW Iron First and MGSW & GISP Anchor Down, Alidade also claims GISW Sweet Lulu (Mr. Greeley) as a half-sister and hails from the female family of GISP Rhiana. On the polar opposite end of the field is Danzit (Tapit) on the rail, a $1.1-million KEESEP purchase by Whisper Hill Farm who debuted in early spring last...

There's nothing a horse can tell Bob Duncan about the terrors of a confined space. He was already on the gate crew, back in 1968, when he went to visit his parents at Laurel, where his dad was training a small string. After an evening at a nearby bar, his buddy threw him the keys. Different car, different handling. Coming to a railroad bridge, he suddenly realized that he wasn't going to make the turn. "We hit these cement pilings, plunged over the side," Duncan recalls. "We had waist belts...

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) fired a four-furlong bullet in :48.25 (1/21) over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Thursday morning. The GII Suburban S. going 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga July 4 will be next for this year's runaway GI Santa Anita Handicap winner. Locked was last seen finishing fourth behind his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), who set a new track record for 1 1/16 miles in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs on...

1st-Saratoga, $90,000, (C), Msw, 6-8, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.25, ft, 4 lengths. ANGEL GIFT (f, 2, Connect--Georgie's Angel {GSW, $129,564}, by Bellamy Road), installed the 3-2 choice for this unveiling, settled off the fleet-footed favorite Gorrono Ranch (War of Will) and Nacho Problem (Waiting), who carved out an opening quarter mile in :22.44. With the top two still exchanging blows straightening for home, Angel Gift still had several lengths to make up but was picking up steam down the center of the track. Turning on the gas late, he...