Lukas Picks Up Laurie's Rocket

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has picked up a rising sprinter, Laurie’s Rocket, and is getting him set for Sunday’s Grade 2 Amsterdam.

The race has regularly been won by some of the fastest runners in the country, including Caleb’s Posse (2011), Discreetly Mine (2010), Quality Road (2009) and Kodiak Cowboy (2008).

Owned by Willis Horton, who campaigned 2006 Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever, Laurie’s Rocket was transferred to Lukas from the barn of Dallas Stewart after a ninth-place finish behind Trinniberg in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 9 at Belmont Park.

Stewart had designs on the Triple Crown trail for the Bluegrass Cat colt, but a poor run in the Grade 3 Southwest in February changed his mind. Since then, Laurie’s Rocket has won the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn and finished second to Il Villano in the Chick Lang on Preakness Day at Pimlico before the Woody Stephens.

“I had a long relationship with the Horton family,” Lukas said. “I had the Horton family [horses] when Dallas Stewart went out on his own … and the Hortons went with Dallas.”

Asked what’s learned in the short time he’s had Laurie’s Rocket, Lukas said, “Not much. The one thing I’m concerned about is doing as good as Dallas did with him. We’re going to keep him short. We’re resolved for that. He’s gotten a little breeze, but I haven’t leaned on him yet.”

Lukas said he will send Laurie’s Rocket out for a three-furlong work Tuesday or Wednesday morning.