A heartfelt edition of the Grade 2 $500,000 Lukas Classic will be run Saturday at Churchill Downs, the first since the June 28 passing of legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The 4-time Kentucky Derby and 4-time Kentucky Oaks winner became this race’s namesake in 2015. The 1-1/8 miles Lukas Classic could be a potential Breeders’ Cup springboard in both the Classic and Dirt Mile divisions.

Let’s meet the contenders for the Lukas Classic (Race 10):

#1-WILLY D’S: Cross-entered in Woodward Stakes in New York, but he’s based locally at Churchill Downs. The Mike Maker-trained gelding was claimed for $50,000 in March at Oaklawn and since won the listed Schaeffer Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis and finished second in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. Luis Saez, who has ridden him in 2 of his last 3 starts, will be aboard if he remains at Churchill.

#2-HIT SHOW: Defending Lukas Classic champion can become this race’s first 2-time winner. The 2025 Dubai World Cup winner has won 10 of 20 lifetime for more than $8.5 million and exits a win in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer. Regular rider Florent Geroux returns to the saddle as Hit Show looks to improve his record to 4-for-6 on the season and match his 2024 ledger. Brad Cox also saddled 2021 Lukas Classic winner Knicks Go.

#3-RATTLE N ROLL: $3.4 million earner makes his first US start since winning last November’s Grade 2 Clark at Churchill – which followed his third-place run behind Hit Show in the ’24 Lukas Classic. He opened 2025 in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, winning 1 of 3 but failing to make any dent in the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup before getting the summer off. Series of local bullet works for his return, which comes in his third straight Lukas Classic appearance (fourth in 2023). Trainer Kenny McPeek also saddles Mystik Dan here and turns the mount over to Julien Leparoux.

#4-PRINCE OF POWER: Longshot maiden claiming and allowance winner seeks his first stakes victory in his fifth such attempt. Runner-up at Ellis this summer in the Cowboy Jones Stakes for trainer Jesus Esquivel. Broke his maiden at Churchill Downs last November, but has yet to compete locally in 8 starts this year.

#5-MYSTIK DAN: The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner is 1-for-8 since being draped in roses, winning Churchill’s Grade 3 Blame Stakes on May 31. The $4.5 million earner since has been fourth in the Grade 1 Foster locally on dirt and the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Colonial’s turf course. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. was seriously injured in a spill Sunday at Churchill Downs, leaving trainer Kenny McPeek in search of a replacement.

#6-DISARM: Fourth in last year’s Lukas, the $1.6 million earner seeks his first stakes win since Churchill’s 2023 Grade 3 Matt Winn. Current campaign includes top-4 finishes in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and Saratoga’s Grade 1 Whitney for Steve Asmussen. Jockey change to Irad Ortiz Jr. as the 5-year-old Gun Runner horse looks to get over the big-race hump.

#7-BANISHING: First or second in 8 stakes races in 2025, the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic winner has bagged more than $1.5 million on the season. The David Jacboson trainee will have run in all 9 months on this annual calendar if he starts Saturday. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who won the Lukas Classic in 2018 (Mind Your Biscuits) and 2022 (Hot Rod Charlie), is 2-for-2 in recent pairings with this 5-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper.