Azeri pointing toward Falls City
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said AZERI (Jade Hunter) came out of
Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in good order and will likely
make her next start in the $300,000 Falls City H. (G2) at
Churchill Downs on Thanksgiving Day.
“She’s sound and ready to go,” Lukas said. “All
we have to do is walk right out of our own barn for a
300-grander. We might as well take a shot at it.”
The conditioner said the six-year-old mare would return to the
track on Wednesday.
Azeri, who was named Horse of the Year in 2002, finished fifth
in the Classic and pushed her career total past the $4 million
mark to $4,079,820. She is the first filly or mare to surpass $4
million in earnings in North America. Azeri has a record of
24-17-4-0.
Lukas mentioned another possible race for Azeri in California
before she goes to the breeding shed next year.
“She’ll go to the breeding shed and that’ll be it,”
Lukas said.
Lukas said his other two Breeders’ Cup runners are doing well
following their trip to Texas.
Multiple Grade 1 winner STELLAR JAYNE (Wild Rush) finished
third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and is scheduled to be
sold on Monday at the Keeneland November Sale.
Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat),
fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), will be given some time
off before he begins a spring campaign.
“He’s a May 16th baby, so I want to let him mature a
little bit and fill out,” Lukas said. “I don’t have any
plans to run him until after the first of the year.”