Lukas Faces Long Odds Without Serena’s Song

If Wayne Lukas is to win the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap for the third time on Sunday, the trainer is going to have to do it with Biltmore Breeze.

Certain to be one of the longest shots in the field of eight, Biltmore Breeze will be making her stakes debut in the Grade I race while a more famous 4-year-old filly sits this one out.

After keeping many guessing all week, Lukas didn’t enter Serena’s Song in the Santa Margarita. Many thought she might come back eight days after finishing seventh in the Santa Anita Handicap.

But Lukas said Friday morning that he never intended to run owner Bob and Beverly Lewis’ filly on Sunday.

“The eight days was a concern, even as great as she is,” he said. “Plus, it’s not like she was in there with a feathery 116 pounds. She would have been carrying 125, and if she was to win this race, she’d have to pick up a pound or two for the Apple Blossom [April 12 at Oaklawn Park].

“We’ll just wait. We want to go into the Apple Blossom in top form, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Wally Dollase, who will send out Jewel Princess, wasn’t surprised by Serena’s Song’s absence. “I didn’t think she’d run,” he said.

Successful in two-thirds of the La Canada Series--the El Encino and La Canada--for 4-year-old fillies, Jewel Princess will be meeting older horses for the first time.

But the field came up light and the 1 1/8-mile race looks to be between her and Twice The Vice, a 5-year-old second to Serena’s Song in the Santa Maria Handicap on Feb. 17.

Before that, she had won the first two starts of her comeback after being sidelined more than nine months last year.

Jewel Princess will carry 119 pounds Sunday, two more than Twice The Vice. Dollase disagreed with the assignments.

“She’s one heck of a mare, and I think if anybody’s going to beat us, it’s going to be her,” he said. “I know my filly has won more money, but [Twice The Vice ran very well] against Serena’s Song. I think the weights should be equal.”

Purchased by Dollase for owners Richard and Martha Stephen more than a year ago, Jewel Princess upset Urbane in the El Encino, then overcame a troubled trip to win the La Canada.

The week before the Santa Margarita was eventful for Dollase. Alyrob, one of the more promising 3-year-olds, was operated on for an entrapped epiglottis on Tuesday and it was also discovered that Helmsman, fourth as the favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap, had displaced his soft palate in the race.

Never worse than second in his first six American races, Helmsman lost his air in the Big ‘Cap, apparently when he was bumped by second-place finisher Luthier Fever. All is fine now, and the 4-year-old will be fitted with a different bridle.

“We’ll put a figure-eight bridle on him to keep his mouth shut and make sure he doesn’t go banging into other horses,” Dollase told the Daily Racing Form.

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Horse Racing Notes

The Santa Margarita isn’t the only Grade I on Sunday’s card. Antespend will try for her sixth consecutive victory in the $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. . . . Cigar, held out of the Santa Anita Handicap because of a bruised foot, worked a half-mile in 51 1/5 Friday morning at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla. The work was a day ahead of schedule. “It was about what I expected,” said trainer Bill Mott. Mott said he will work the horse twice more before Cigar leaves for Dubai and a start in the Dubai World Cup on March 27. . . . Chris McCarron worked Cobra King six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 Friday morning at Gulfstream, preparing for next Saturday’s Florida Derby. “This was an important work,” said McCarron. “He was within himself and finished with a lot of gusto.” . . . Northern Spur, held out of today’s $300,000 Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream because of a mild case of colic, galloped Friday morning and will be sent back to California next week. He’ll probably make his next start in the $250,000 San Luis Rey Stakes on March 24.