Lukas Gets Advice on Serena’s Song vs. Timber Country in Derby

D. Wayne Lukas and his 4 a.m. Kentucky Derby discussion group have a lot to talk about this year.

Four retirees chat with the trainer over early morning coffee at a Krispy-Kreme Doughnut Shop near Churchill Downs. One topic is whether Lukas should start the filly Serena’s Song in the 1 1/4-mile Derby Saturday or run her in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks the day before.

“They’re wearing their Timber Country hats,” Lukas said of the retirees, referring to one of the two colts he will start in the Derby. “They think I should run Serena’s Song in the Oaks.”

Serena’s Song has won five straight stakes and beat colts in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Beam on April 1 at Turfway Park. The last filly to run in the Derby was Winning Colors, who gave Lukas his only victory in the race in 1988. The only other Derby-winning fillies were Regret in 1915 and Genuine Risk in 1980.

“I think Timber Country is the one to beat in the Derby, therefore I am leaning toward the Oaks,” Lukas said. “Bob Lewis wants me to make the decision.”

Robert and Beverly Lewis own Serena’s Song, and they co-own Timber Country, with William T. Young.

Lukas said he would make a decision about Serena’s Song by Monday.

Timber Country, who has lost all three of his starts this year by a total of 4 1/2 lengths, shows a definite liking for Churchill Downs. He won the 1 1-16th-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5 at the Downs, and Monday he worked 7 furlongs in an excellent 1:25 3-5 on a sloppy track.

Lukas’ other Derby colt is Michael Tabor’s Thunder Gulch, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, then fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass on April 15 at Keeneland.

Sure to be discussed by Lukas and his friends will be the chances of Suave Prospect. The colt could give trainer Nick Zito his third Derby victory in five years and make Julie Krone the first woman to ride a Derby winner.

Another topic to discuss over doughnuts could be the international character of the 121st Derby. Two England-based colts and another from Japan are scheduled to start. All three are Kentucky-bred, but there could be two English-bred and one Canadian-bred in the field. The Canadian-bred Talkin Man will be one of the favorites off his victories in the 1-mile Gotham and the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in his last two starts.

The boys also might joke about whether “My Old Kentucky Home” will become the favorite song of composer-singer Burt Bacharach.

He owns serious contender Afternoon Deelites, winner of the first five starts of his career before losing by a head to Larry the Legend in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Larry the Legend is out of the Derby with an injury.

“He may find a way to win, you know,” a smiling Zito said of Suave Prospect, second in each of his last three starts. The two colts who found a way to win the Derby for Zito were Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go For Gin last year. The only trainer to win three Derbies in five years was Ben Jones, winner of six for Calumet Farm. Jones won with Citation in 1948, Ponder in 1949 and Hill Gail in 1952.

Krone will be the first woman to ride in two Derbies. She finished 14th with Ecstatic Ride in 1992. The other women to ride in the Derby were Diane Crump, 1970; Patricia Cooksey, 1984, and Andrea Seefeldt, 1991. Cooksey’s 11th on So Vague was the best finish.

Eltish and Citadeed, the two colts based in England, are scheduled to arrive Monday at Churchill Downs.

Eltish has raced once in the United States, finishing second to Timber Country in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

In his only start this year, he finished third in the 1 1/8-mile Feilden Stakes on April 20 at Newmarket, England.

He carried 131 pounds and spotted the first two horses eight pounds each. Each Derby starter will carry 126 pounds.

Citadeed’s only start this year was the 7-furlong European Freed Handicap on the turf on April 19 at Newmarket in which he finished third, also under 131 pounds.

Ski Captain is due to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday. He also has raced only once this year, winning the 1 1/8-mile Kisaragi Sho on the grass on Feb. 5 at Kyoto.

No Japan-based horse has run in the Derby.

The two English-bred Derby candidates are Jumron and In Character.

Jumron, who made all eight of his career starts in the United States, finished a strong third in the Santa Anita Derby.

In Character, who raced twice in England last year, finished second in the 1 1-16th-mile Louisiana Derby and sixth in the Santa Anita Derby.

English-bred winners of the Derby were Omar Khayyam in 1917 and Tomy Lee in 1959. Both did all of their racing in the United States.

Talkin Man would become the third Canadian-bred to win the Derby, joining Northern Dancer in 1964 and Sunny’s Halo in 1983.

A field of 17 3-year-olds appears to be shaping up for the Derby.