Wayne Lukas sets sights on Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is aiming to win the Smile Sprint Handicap – something he achieved a decade ago with, Orientate. The veteran handler is returning to Calder, this time with the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up, Hamazing Destiny.
In 2002, Orientate took Lukas on the seventh sky with his victory in the Smile Sprint Handicap.
It was second of the five consecutive victories for the ever-green sprinter, who concluded his journey with an emphatic success in the Grade 1 NAPA Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park, the same year.
Lukas is making his way back to Calder with an aim to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Orientate’s victory in the Grade 2 event.
Hamazing Destiny has been unlucky since the start of this year. The 6-year-old started off his 2012 campaign with the runner-up spot in the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn Park in January.
The sprinter lacked the rub of the green in the following races, when he finished second in an Allowance Optional Claiming. After two unlucky outings, the dashing runner stepped into the Grade 3 Count Fleet Handicap, but failed to make an impact, finishing third on the table.
After a terrible trip at Churchill Downs at the start of last month, Hamazing Destiny, finally got it right at Pimlico, where he was an easy winner in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap.
He is coming off a fourth-place finish to winner, Caixa Eletronica, in the Grade 2 True North Handicap at Belmont Park.
Despite the fact that victories are not coming Hamazing Destiny’s way frequently, Lukas is pretty confident of his chances in the Smile Sprint Handicap. He said on Tuesday:
“I’m looking very seriously at the Smile. The problem is trying to make flight arrangements. Getting them out of there is the biggest problem.”
He continued: “When the horse broke down, it happened right in front of us. The way we were moving at the time, Corey [Nakatani] said he thought he could have finished second, at least no worse than third, if he didn’t have to alter course. I still have to shake out Corey’s situation for the Smile as well, but if we can work everything out, I’d really like to run in that race.”
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