Lukas Horse Beats Chilukki in Davona Dale

There was more to trainer Wayne Lukas’ Saturday than a victory in the Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla.

While no one was surprised by 2-1 favorite High Yield’s gate-to-wire win in the final prep race for the Florida Derby on March 11, what happened in the $125,000 Davona Dale Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans was shocking.

Shawnee Country, a 28-1 shot trained by Lukas, won by half a length over 2-5 favorite Chilukki, the champion 2-year-old filly of 1999 who was making her first start of the year.

Chilukki blew a three-length lead with a furlong to run in losing her second consecutive two-turn race. She lost in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 at Gulfstream Park, beaten by another Lukas longshot, Cash Run at 32-1.

Bob Baffert, the trainer for Chilukki, had a positive spin on the outcome and said the Cherokee Run filly will remain in Louisiana for the Fair Grounds Oaks.

“This race will tighten her up,” Baffert said. “[Jockey] David [Flores] told me that he went wide in the stretch because he thought the rail was dull and you know the last 20 yards are real tough at this track.”

Shawnee Country, who has won four of 10 races, finished the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:45.

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High Yield flattered the California crop of 3-year-olds with his victory in the Fountain Of Youth--his first since the Hopeful Sept. 4 at Saratoga.

High Yield, a son of Storm Cat, had been second to Captain Steve in the Hollywood Futurity and The Deputy in the Santa Catalina at Santa Anita in his most recent starts.

High Yield, who has won three of 10, was pursued throughout by 18-1 shot Hal’s Hope over a track favoring front-runners and won the 1 1/16-mile race by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:42 2/5.

With regular jockey Corey Nakatani moving to Greenwood Lake, High Yield was ridden by Pat Day for the first time. Greenwood Lake was a distant fourth.

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Fusaichi Pegasus, sold for $4 million as a yearling, made a successful two-turn debut at Santa Anita, winning a $54,000 allowance race.

Fusaichi Pegasus, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, stalked a moderate pace, took the lead around the turn and went on to beat Tribunal by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:42 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Neil Drysdale, who also won the $81,750 San Marino Handicap with 7-2 second-choice Majorien, was unclear what would be next for Fusaichi Pegasus, a 3-year-old son of Mr. Prospector who has won three of four races.

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The racing calendar for 2001, which was approved Friday by the California Horse Racing Board, includes an eight-day break before the Santa Anita meeting starts Dec. 26. This past year there was racing through Christmas Eve at Hollywood Park.

Here’s the 2001 racing calendar in Southern California: Santa Anita (Dec. 26, 2000-April 16, 2001), Hollywood Park (April 20-July 16), Del Mar (July 18-Sept. 5), Fairplex Park (Sept. 6-Sept. 18), Oak Tree at Santa Anita (Sept. 26-Nov. 5) and Hollywood Park (Nov. 7-Dec. 17).

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Cover Gal, the 3-5 favorite, won by three lengths in the $100,000 Boo La Boo Stakes at Santa Anita. The victory was the fifth in six starts for the Falstaff filly, who completed the six furlongs in 1:09.

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The day after former state Sen. Ken Maddy, a longtime supporter of thoroughbred racing, died after a lengthy battle with cancer, Champ’s Star won the $100,000 Ken Maddy Sprint Handicap at Bay Meadows. Santa Anita had a moment of silence for Maddy before the first race.