Lucayan Heads Turf Cup Probables

Pandora Stud’s Lucayan, second in the Grade II Del Mar Handicap Aug. 24, heads a field of 8-10 expected starters in the Grade II, $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, which will be run at 1 ½ miles Saturday, Dec. 14.

The French bred from the barn of Hall of Fame Neil Drysdale is seeking his first United States victory after finishing second or third in a trio of Grade II events.  The 4-year-old worked six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 Sunday morning and a determination as to his status for the Turf Cup is forthcoming.

Among his challengers will be Niall Racing’s Temeraine (trainer Tom Proctor, Gary Stevens), winner of the Grade III Kentucky Turf Cup Sept. 14 at Kentucky Downs.

Other possible starters are Wachtel Stables or Friedman’s Artic North (Peter Miller, Joe Talamo), Dye or Venneri Racing’s Bright Thought (Jorge Gutierrez, Edwin Maldonado), Alain and Gerard Wertheimer’s Segway (Richard Mandella, Mike Smith), Madeline Auerbach’s Empty Headed (Barry Abrams, no rider), Huntsville (Abrams, no rider), and Robert Trussell, Jr.’s Et Tu Walker (Patrick Biancone, no rider).