Study Guide: 2025 Lukas Classic

Sep 22, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Mystik Dan (rail) reaches the wire before Sierra Leone (outside) and Forever Young (middle) in the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com)

Mystik Dan, winner of the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1), is one of three Derby alumni entered in Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Hit Show and Disarm are the other Derby veterans squaring off in the 1 1/8-mile race, which is named in honor of the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who won the Kentucky Derby four times.

Let’s meet the full Lukas Classic field:

Willy D’s

Start(s): 22
Wins: 5
Place: 6
Show: 2

Owner: Paradise Farms and Case Chambers
Breeder: Beau Lane
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (108) when winning a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $535,968

Sire: Lookin At Lucky
Dam: Boston Mine
Color: Bay

Willy D’s has been improving steadily under the care of trainer Mike Maker. He exits a respectable runner-up finish in the Charles Town Classic (G2), though he was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Banishing in that race, and he’ll need another step forward to reverse that outcome.

Hit Show

Start(s): 20
Wins: 10
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Gary & Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (108) when finishing fourth in the Belmont (G1) at Belmont Park.
Total Earnings: $8,559,858

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Actress
Color: Gray/roan

Reigning Lukas Classic winner Hit Show has been sharp this year, winning the Dubai World Cup (G1), Louisiana (G3), and West Virginia Governor’s S. The fifth-place finisher from the 2023 Kentucky Derby often posts triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings, and he has a good chance to defend his Lukas Classic title.

Rattle N Roll

Start(s): 26
Wins: 10
Place: 2
Show: 3

Owner: Lucky Seven Stable and Sharaf Mohamed Alhariri
Breeder: St. Simon Place
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Top Speed Rating: (109) when winning the Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park.
Total Earnings: $3,461,641

Sire: Connect
Dam: Jazz Tune
Color: Chestnut

Rattle N Roll defeated Hit Show in the Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs last fall, but the tables were turned in the Dubai World Cup, where Rattle N Roll finished a distant eighth. He hasn’t raced since April 5, and with only three timed workouts under his belt leading up to the Lukas Classic, Rattle N Roll may be short of peak fitness for his comeback.

Prince of Power

Start(s): 21
Wins: 3
Place: 4
Show: 3

Owner: Bryan M. Carney
Breeder: Bryan M. Carney
Trainer: Jesus Esquivel
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel

Top Speed Rating: (100) when finishing second in the R. A. “Cowboy” Jones S. at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $290,256

Sire: Runhappy
Dam: Demigoddess
Color: Bay

Prince of Power has won a couple of allowance optional claiming races during his career, but he’s fallen to defeat in all five of his stakes starts. Facing tougher competition in the Lukas Classic could be tricky.

Mystik Dan

Start(s): 15
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4GRacing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (103) when winning the Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $4,516,120

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma’am
Color: Bay

Winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) over a deep field, Mystik Dan remains a force to reckon with at Churchill Downs. During the spring, he saved ground inside of rivals on his way to winning the Blame (G3) at Churchill over future Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Antiquarian. Returning to the site of his biggest victories should make Mystik Dan a formidable win contender.

It feels like deja vu! 🤩

Mystik Dan returns to the @churchilldowns winners circle for the G3 Blame! 🏆

Regular rider @b_hernandezjr was aboard for trainer @KennyMcPeek.

🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/vNpnxdTxla

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 31, 2025

Disarm

Start(s): 18
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 4

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (104) when second in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $1,599,165

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Easy Tap
Color: Chestnut

The fourth-place finisher from the 2023 Kentucky Derby, Disarm, occasionally runs strongly at the highest level—he’s recorded top-three finishes in the 2023 Travers (G1), 2024 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), and 2025 Whitney (G1). A top-three finish in the Lukas Classic isn’t out of the question.

Banishing

Start(s): 23
Wins: 9
Place: 5
Show: 2

Owner: Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: David Jacobson
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (104) when finishing second in the Razorback H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $1,890,709

Sire: Ghostzapper
Dam: Dowager
Color: Chestnut

Banishing rarely finishes out of the top two, and he enters the Lukas Classic off a triumph in the Charles Town Classic. However, it’s worth noting that Banishing’s lone misfire this year was a fifth-place finish against Mystik Dan in the Blame. He can’t afford another subpar performance if he’s going to turn the tables in the Lukas Classic.