Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas isn't afraid to swing for the fences. But he also knows sometimes it's best to take the base on balls when presented the opportunity.
Not that the May 21 $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes Sponsored by Brandon and Diannah Perry to Benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a gimme for the Lukas-trained Ethereal Road. But with the 1 1/16-mile race restricted to 3-year-olds that have never won an open stakes, it's certainly a less formidable assignment than the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) that is the centerpiece of the blockbuster 14-race program at historic Pimlico Race Course.
"We'll run him in the Sir Barton, maybe build his confidence, try to get a win," Lukas said. "If he does really well in there, then we'll jump into the Belmont Stakes (Presented by NYRA Bets, G1). I think the Belmont would be a good fit."
Lukas has taken some shots with Ethereal Road, the 3-1 second choice in the Sir Barton's field of 10, for which Doug O'Neill trainee B Dawk is the 5-2 favorite.
Ethereal Road jumped from a maiden victory into Oaklawn Park's Rebel Stakes (G2), finishing second. After a disappointing seventh in Keeneland's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 9, Lukas wheeled the Quality Road colt back a week later in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) to try to get additional qualifying points and secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) starting gate.
The 3-year-old colt finished fourth in the Lexington and squeaked into the 20th spot in the Derby field after a couple of horses were withdrawn from consideration. However, Lukas wasn't satisfied with how Ethereal Road was doing and scratched him out of the Derby the day before.
A strong five-eighths of a mile work in a minute flat on May 11 at Churchill Downs had Lukas beaming—though not quite enough to put Ethereal Road in the Preakness.
"Boy, he's having a great week," Lukas said, adding of the decision to go in the restricted Sir Barton rather than the Preakness. "I wonder if I really screwed up there. But he's going in the Sir Barton."
Also entered is Teresa Pompay trainee Unikee, who sits at 4-1, and The Elkstone Group's The Addison Pour, a Maryland-bred whose four races have been at Laurel Park for trainer Brittany Russell. Also bred in Maryland is Mr Jefferson, a son of Constitution who will contend for trainer Mike Trombetta, as well as Goldenize, who is trained by Timothy Keefe.
Ruggs comes in from Kentucky for trainer Ron Moquett. Brooklyn Diamonds also comes to Baltimore by way of Kentucky for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Completing the field is Writeitontheice, who shipped from trainer Rudy Rodriguez's New York base, and Good Skate, also trained by Rodriguez.
Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 21, 2022, Race 11Entries: Sir Barton S. sponsored by Brandon and Diannah Perry to Benefit The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Ethereal Road (KY) Luis Saez 118 D. Wayne Lukas 3/1 2 2Goldenize (MD) Forest Boyce 118 Timothy L. Keefe 20/1 3 3Writeitontheice (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 118 Rudy R. Rodriguez 30/1 4 4The Addison Pour (MD) Jevian Toledo 118 Brittany T. Russell 15/1 5 5B Dawk (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Doug F. O'Neill 5/2 6 6Mr Jefferson (MD) Jaime Rodriguez 118 Michael J. Trombetta 6/1 7 7Good Skate (KY) UNKNOWN 118 Rudy R. Rodriguez 15/1 8 8Unikee (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Teresa M. Pompay 4/1 9 9Brooklyn Diamonds (KY) Florent Geroux 118 Rodolphe Brisset 10/1 10 10Ruggs (FL) Joel Rosario 122 Ron Moquett 10/1
