The Rest:

D.W. Lukas Training:

1. COOL COAL MAN/ANAK NAKAL:

Works/races for the year: Average/Above Average
Works/races since 3/15: Average/Above Average
Furlongs: Below Average
Spacing: Ever 9 or 10 days + up to three weeks post race. CCN has only one :48 breeze since 4/12 and it was 9 days out.
Quality of work 10 days out: I've been pleased to see Zito galloping his horses on most off days. That's a relief in terms of injury prevention. Basically it looks as if Zito has morphed completely into a DW Lukas trainer with one exception, he primarily breezes only 4f. Yes, do feel sorry for the horse. They'll run out of gas about the 6f pole.

THE INEXPLICABLE/PUZZLING/QUESTIONABLE LUCK:

1. GAYEGO:

Works/races for the year: 17th
Works/races since 3/15: 4, way below average
Furlongs: about average. Several breezes were longer.
Spacing: Another colt with one breeze, albeit a good one since 4/12, but, 7 days out.
Quality of work 10 days out: exceptionally perplexing. This horse had but one short gallop after his 4/26 breeze, then they decided to take him out for a second gallop 5/2.

Analysis: you hate to throw this one out due to strength and talent. Obviously close exam relates the trainer is an inexplicable dead head. This stuff works in Brazil and Arkansas. Against Colonel John, no way. Up the track, and it's a shame.

2. RECAPTURETHEGLORY:

Works/races for the year: 19th
Works/races since 3/15: 5, below average
Furlongs: average
Spacing: Last one 8 days out on 4/25. That's nearly Zito like. They brag on his hard 2mile gallops. The video shows the horse loping along in 20 second furlongs.
Quality of work 10 days out: the horse worked down the lane as part of a one mile gallop 5/2.

Analysis: This horse has done more volume in his off day gallops than the rest. Thus, interesting conditioning. This is a fit, as opposed to unfit, horse. That was a nice race he ran in Illinois. This is the puzzling one for me. He could be right there, or he could fade out of sight.

3. SMOOTH AIR:
Near #1 in works/races for year, furlongs, works since 3/15. Lengthy works. I'm uncertain what he did in off days, but suspect it's decent. This is an example of how a couple of days off can blow your mind as a trainer. Stutts handled this horse so well before 4/23, but completely blew it thereafter. I feel for the guy and the connections. It's anathema, but, should have galloped right through a mild fever and done his stuff. Smooth Air might have competed. Now, I fear up the track is a certainty.