The once-beaten 'TDN Rising Star' Sporting Chance (Tiznow), last seen winning the GI Hopeful S. by a neck in early September, is scheduled to make his sophomore debut in the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 19, trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed to the Oaklawn notes team Friday morning. Luis Saez has been engaged for the ride on the colt, a $275,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $575,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase for longtime Lukas clients William Mack and Robert Baker.
“We didn't have any target when we first got here because we didn't know how quick he would come in hand,” Lukas said. “But he's done so well since he got here, we started getting more optimistic that the Southwest was a doable deal.”
Sporting Chance has been working well over the last month in Hot Springs, recording a best-of-113 half-mile in :47.60 Jan. 15 and most recently five furlongs in 1:01.40 Jan. 29 (4/38). Lukas indicated that Sporting Chance would fit in two more breezes prior to his Presidents' Day return to action.
“We're probably not going to be as tight as we need to be or should be with those horses all having an out,” Lukas said. “But, I think we've got a very talented horse, so maybe he'll overcome me.”
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