Mind Your Biscuits wins first route race in Lukas Classic
The Grade 3, $200,000 Lukas
Classic was set as a Breeders’ Cup prep for Mind
Your Biscuits. The specific division was up in the air, with the
Classic, Dirt Mile and Sprint all options. After winning his first route race
Saturday under the lights at Churchill Downs, trainer and part owner Chad
Summers might be giving more thought to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, run
back at the same track Nov. 3.
The Lukas Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles, is the first race longer than seven
furlongs Mind Your Biscuits has won. The 5-year-old New York-bred ran the same distance last
out when second to Diversify in the Grade 1 Whiney.
“I wanted to make sure he galloped out well,” Summers said. “(Jockey) Tyler
(Gaffalione) kind of stayed after him a little bit to make sure that he
finished up. We watched the other races today and I thought he showed that the
Whitney wasn’t really a fluke over a sealed track and a suck-up second. He’s a quality
Grade 1 horse at all distances.”
Mind Your Biscuits was closer to the pace than normal in the Lukas Classic. Flowers
for Lisa had a comfortable pace up front, setting fractions in 23.73, 48.09 and
1:12.27. Despite the easy pace, Flowers for Lisa backed off and Mind Your
Biscuits found clear sailing in the stretch, winning by 4 ¾ lengths.
The final time was 1:48.64.
“He broke sharp. He put himself in the race. He got a little keen going into the backside but he settled nicely and when I asked him for a run he just kicked on,” Gaffalione said.
“He’s just a really good horse and he just keeps going. He does whatever you ask of him. He’s definitely the best horse I ever rode.”
Toast of New York, making his first run since the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup, got up for second. The European invader ran second in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Defending Lukas winner Honorable Duty rode the rail for third.
“I’d say that’s not too shabby after not running for so long,” said Toast of New York’s trainer Jamie Osborne. “He was a bit rusty but that’s to be expected. I think it warrants us to stick around a little longer here in Kentucky. Hopefully he’s alright after the race and we will figure out our plan regarding the Breeders’ Cup.”
This year will be the third Breeders’ Cup for Mind Your Biscuits. He competed in the Sprint the last two years, finishing second in 2016 and third in 2017. His three Grade/Group 1 wins came at sprint distances. He is also twice Grade 1-placed at a mile. Summers said Mind Your Biscuits will remain at Churchill Downs and train up to the Breeders' Cup.
When asked what the Lukas Classic told connections, Summers said: “It told us we’re going to have a lot of decisions to make in a couple weeks.”