Report: Bravazo continuing on to 2018 Kentucky Derby

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed this week with the Daily Racing Form what jockey Gary Stevens initially said following Bravazo’s puzzling eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.

The colt “came out of the race in good order, real good,” Lukas said, and so with that, the Hall of Famer confirmed he’ll have an entry in the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

A son of Awesome Again, Bravazo punched his ticket with a front-running score two starts back in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. He never really got into the Louisiana Derby, also at Fair Grounds, with Stevens saying the colt fought him all the way.

“We were going fast and I eased into the three path going into the first turn and all of a sudden he wanted to go straight,” Stevens said. “I didn’t make the turn, I had a steering malfunction for whatever reason. I just don’t know, but he was lugging out with me the entire trip and I had both hands on the inside rein, literally, trying to hold him in.”

Added Lukas to DRF: “We were in great position and Gary had to check him a couple of times and that just really got us in trouble. We ended up wide, and that really killed us.”

The four-time Derby winner Lukas said a rider hasn’t been confirmed yet for the Kentucky Derby. Miguel Mena, who was up for the Risen Star, is missing time due to a recent spill in which he broke his ankle. Lukas and Stevens have quite a history, as they teamed up with Winning Colors in 1988; more recently, Stevens rode 2013 Preakness winner Oxbow.

Bravazo currently ranks fourth on the Kentucky Derby leader point with 54 qualifying points. Lukas will maintain his string at Oaklawn Park until the meet ends following the April 14 Arkansas Derby — his Sporting Chance is possible to appear in that race — before returning to Churchill Downs.