Seize the Grey rallies, wins for Lukas in Pat Day Mile

Louisville, Ky.

The most crowded day of American horse racing also featured the most crowded winner's circle, as dozens of shareholders as part of the MyRacehorse syndicate descended on Seize the Grey after he won the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas made all the right moves to get Seize the Grey into the Pat Day Mile, opting for this spot instead of the also eligible list for the Kentucky Derby. Churchill does not allow cross entering on Kentucky Oaks-Derby weekend, so Seize the Grey would have scratched from the Kentucky Derby and been unable to run in the Pat Day Mile.

Seize the Grey will get his classic chance, however, as Lukas said the Arrogate colt is likely for the Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Pimlico, assuming he exits this race in good order.

"I'm sure there are 680 people who'd like to run again in two weeks," Lukas said about the MyRacehorse partners. "I'm the 681st vote, but mine counts the most. He's earned his way in, though."

The field for the Pat Day was tightly bunched behind pacesetter Vlahos, who ripped through 22.12 and 44.59 seconds before begrudgingly giving way to the winner with Nash finishing second. Seize the Grey was 1 1/4 lengths clear in 1:36.96 for the mile.

"I told Jamie Torres to stay in touch with the speed," Lukas said. "Don't be afraid to follow the speed and then make your move at the quarter pole. If you had listened to us in the paddock, you'd think we knew how the race was going to run. He rode it perfectly."

It was the first graded-stakes win for the journeyman Torres, who was aboard for Seize the Grey's maiden win last year but lost a pair of races before regaining the mount here.

"I like giving the younger guys a chance," said Lukas, who gave Keith Asmussen the mount on his first Derby starter. "I've had to chew them out once or twice, but that's what makes them better."

This was Lukas's fourth win in the Pat Day Mile, once known asa the Derby Trail Stakes and held a week before the Derby. It also was a reunion of sorts for Lukas and jockey Pat Day, who presented the trophy for his namesake race. The pair won a lot of big races together, including the 1999 Breeders' Cup Classic with Cat Thief.

"It meant a lot that Pat was there to present the trophy," Lukas said.

The winner and runner-up are headed in different directions, as trainer Brad Cox said Godolphin's Nash would stay at middle distances, including the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes day at Saratoga.

Seize the Grey will stretch back out to a two-turn 1 3/16-mile race after finishing third in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and a disappointing seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).

"I knew he'd get the mile pretty good, but I'm not worried about stretching back out," Lukas said. "Not every horse handles that Blue Grass, and he trains great here at Churchill, so I had no concerns today."