Dublin takes first step on road to BC Dirt Mile

Dublin, shown training for the 2010 Derby, launches his comeback beneath the Twin Spires (EquiSport Photos) Robert Baker and William Mack’s DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) will make his long-awaited return to competition for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Carded as the 11TH race, it will be the first start for the four-year-old since he finished fifth in the 2010 Preakness S. (G1) to eventual three-year-old champion Lookin at Lucky. Dublin, winner of the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga in 2009, was taken out of training following the second jewel of the Triple Crown to have a chip removed from his ankle, but Lukas said the colt is fully recovered from the injury. “Dr. (Larry) Bramlage removed the chip from his ankle and also noticed another spot on his cannon bone,” Lukas said. “He (Dr. Bramlage) told us to give the horse as much time off as possible, so we gave him the rest of the year off.”

A $525,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase, Dublin returned to the
racetrack in January and began training at Oaklawn Park prior to coming to
Churchill Downs at the beginning of the spring meet. The Kentucky-bred has been
quite impressive in the mornings over the historic track and has recorded four
bullet works since May 14, including a four-furlong breeze on May 28 in :46 4/5,
which was the fastest of 69 workers at the distance that morning.

“He’s doing really well and has worked great over the track,” Lukas said. 
“He’s also been leaving the gate really well. He used to have some trouble out
of the gate, but that’s all gone now.”

Dublin, who was seventh in the 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) to WinStar Farm’s
Super Saver, will be making his fourth start at Churchill Downs and is still
searching for his first victory beneath the Twin Spires. Lukas hopes for success
on Saturday and that Dublin will return to race at the Louisville track at least
once more this fall.

“I don’t think he’s a 6 1/2-furlong rocket by any means, but I do think this
will give him something to build on and he’ll go on to something bigger,” Lukas
said. “The ultimate goal is the (Breeders’ Cup) Dirt Mile (G1) in the fall.
That’s where we would like to end up.

“This race isn’t a ‘make or break’ deal; it’s just something to get him
started,” Lukas said.

Another starter from the 2010 Kentucky Derby is also in the field. Vinery
Stables LLC and Mrs. Susan Roy’s AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again), winner of the
Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct in March 2010, will look to right the ship after a
disappointing fifth-place finish as the even-money favorite in a 1 1/16-mile
allowance at Churchill Downs on June 12. Awesome Act finished 19th in the 136th
running of the Kentucky Derby and went to the sidelines with an injury after the
race.

Also in the field is Mimicry Partnership’s GRAND TRAVERSE (Pioneering), a
stakes-winning earner of $361,499. The eight-year-old gelding was most recently
second, beaten a nose, in a $50,000 claiming event at five furlongs on a sloppy
main track at Churchill Downs on May 15 for trainer Tim Glyshaw.

The allowance/optional claiming event has a scheduled post time of 5:55 p.m.
(EDT). Grand Traverse will have a claiming price of $62,500.