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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lukas Hopes Favored Filly Is Horse Like - Not Of - A Different Colors

Associated Press

The last filly to win the Santa Anita Derby was Winning Colors in 1988, and she went on to win the Kentucky Derby, too. No wonder D. Wayne Lukas likes the comparison.

Lukas trained Winning Colors, and he will saddle the filly Sharp Cat as the favorite in Saturday’s 1-1/2-mile Santa Anita Derby.

“We weighed a lot of factors before we made this decision, and we’ll see if we made the right one on Saturday,” Lukas said at Thursday’s post-position draw.

A lot of racing folks are comparing Sharp Cat to Winning Colors, including her former jockey, Gary Stevens.

“I see a lot of Winning Colors in her,” said Stevens, who will ride the second-favored Silver Charm in the 750,000 race, one of the major steppingstones to the Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

“I’ve seen Wayne quoted as saying she’s not as big or as intimidating as Winning Colors, but she has been a presence and she has an air about her that is intimidating.”

With Corey Nakatani riding from the No. 1 post position, Sharp Cat was made the 2-1 early favorite. Silver Charm was listed at 5-2 in the morning line.