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Lukas no fan of filly
Scoffs at 'cupcake schedule'
But with Charismatic needing only to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday to become the 12th three-year-old to capture the gruelling Crown, racing's most prolific trainer couldn't help running off at the mouth.
Charismatic yesterday drew Post 4 for the 11/2-mile "Test of a Champion" and, unlike his long-shot billing in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, was established as the 2-1 morning-line favourite.
The racing world isn't conceding the final jewel though -- 11 others will be in the gate for the 131st running of the Belmont and its $1-million purse. A $5-million Triple Crown bonus also awaits for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis should their former $62,500 claimer do Triple duty.
Many feel Charismatic's biggest challenge will come from filly Silverbulletday. The daughter of former Woodbine-based Silver Deputy is threatening to turn this into a battle of the sexes.
But Lukas isn't impressed with Silverbulletday, implying the filly is little more than a flirt.
"What will happen when she makes that brilliant move that she makes and it isn't one of those fillies that just runs with her for 30 yards?" Lukas said.
"What if there are four or five colts that just grab her right by the throat and try her? She's in a difficult situation -- she has had a cupcake schedule.
"If she does go on and do it, we'll salute her. But she has to pass that test and it's the test of a champion."
Silverbulletday's owner, Mike Pegram, entered his filly for two reasons -- he believes she has earned a shot and he wants to make sure that if Charismatic is to join the sport's ultimate honour role, he is deserving.
"This is horse racing, this is about horses," said Pegram, whose girl is third choice in the morning line at 4-1. "This isn't about Mike Pegram or Bob Baffert or Wayne Lukas. It's about who has the best horse and I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror if I thought that I may have had the best horse and rolled over to let somebody win the Triple Crown."
Baffert, Silverbulletday's trainer, has added motivation. The past two years he came to Belmont with a chance at the Crown. Agonizingly, he had to watch Real Quiet and Silver Charm suffer heartbreaking runner-up finishes.
Silverbulletday, winner of the filly companions to the Derby (Kentucky Oaks) and Preakness (Black-Eyed Susan), gets a five-pound break in the weights from the boys -- 121 to 126.
Baffert and Pegram entered Silverbulletday in the Preakness but scratched after she drew an outside post.
That won't happen here after getting the comfortable Post 3 for a marathon race where starting position means little.
Second choice in the morning-line (7-2) is Menifee, runner-up in both the Derby and Preakness. Trainer Elliott Walden is licking his chops at the prospect of repeating the role of spoiler.
A year ago, his Canadian-bred Victory Gallop finished second to Real Quiet in the opening two jewels only to reverse the photo in New York.
"I think Charismatic is an excellent horse but I'm not sure he's as dominant as Real Quiet was," Walden said.
Sounds like Charismatic -- who won the Derby at 31-1 and the Preakness at 8-1 -- still has his doubters.