Remembering D. Wayne Lukas, who could always make me believe
D. Wayne Lukas's reign over the horse racing world reached its zenith just as I became a fan. This was the mid-'90s, when he was his sport's answer to Pat Riley: the stylish suits, the shades, the swagger, the success.
The tear he was on back then may never be matched. Lukas won the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes in 1994, all three Triple Crown races in '95 (with two different horses), and both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont again in '96. Each spring, I'd turn on the television and watch as he'd head to the winner's circle, hoist his latest trophy and vow that the next year he'd have an even stronger hand. He seemed invincible. He had my awe.
And I thought this was just the way it was. That D. Wayne's dominance was something I could simply count on. I was only a teenager, yet to confront the unsentimental realities of life. But he was the king, and kings are made to be dethroned. In no time at all, it seemed, he was being shoved aside for the next big thing.
That was Bob Baffert. He had suits and shades and swagger too, and in 1997 he won his very first Triple Crown race when Silver Charm finished first in the Derby. He took the Preakness too, then fell short in the Belmont. Now Lukas had a rival. And in '98, Baffert did even better, with Real Quiet missing out on the Triple Crown by a matter of inches on a photo finish. Lukas was barely an afterthought in any of this. A narrative was taking hold: Baffert was the future. Lukas was yesterday's news.
All of this set the stage for the magical May that transformed me from a mere admirer into a D. Wayne devotee. Baffert brought a trio of horses to Churchill for the 1999 Derby. A three-peat was on the table. He would have the betting favorite. The spotlight was his.
Lukas did have two runners in. One was Cat Thief, who'd at least run well in a few prep races. The other was a hopeless no-shot named Charismatic, who'd only months earlier been running in claiming races. Lukas talked him up anyway; Charismatic had actually set a record time in the stakes race that qualified hm for the Derby. But unfulfilled hype was getting to be a bigger part of Lukas's reputation.
I was dumb enough to listen, though. More importantly, I was nostalgic enough to believe that the man who'd owned the grandest stage a few years earlier still had it in him. This somehow felt bigger than a horse race, more like a matter of principle. This wasn't about handicapping. It was about not giving in to a world that was telling me it was time to give up on D. Wayne.
Charismatic went off at 31-1. He sat off the pace for most of the race, then made his move turning for home. At the eighth pole, he pushed ahead of Cat Thief. 'Now Lukas is running one-two!' ABC's Dave Johnson exclaimed. And when he held off a last-second blitz from Menifee, it sealed one of the biggest upsets in Derby history. D. Wayne was back.
Then came Baltimore. Loading into the Preakness starting gate, Charismatic was 8-1. The consensus was universal: His Derby win had been a fluke. He was about to be exposed for what he really was. And it sure looked that way as Charismatic made his way up the backstretch in 10th place. But the pace was hot. The leaders started to tire. Charismatic rolled into the far turn, circled the field and never looked back.
On ABC's broadcast, Lukas pumped his fist and strode to winner's circle. Only weeks earlier, there'd been talk of a changing of the guard in the sport. Now he'd be heading to the Belmont with a shot at the Triple Crown. And he'd be doing it with this horse? It all seemed so unlikely, in a way that made everything seem possible.
READ MORE: Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas: Audacious, obsessed, unparalleled
For Lukas, it turned out, the Triple Crown wasn't to be, that year or ever. The Belmont was nearly catastrophic. In the final strides, Charismatic was pulled up shortly after the wire. There were bone fractures. But Charismatic was saved (and went on to a long career as a stallion). And in the drama of that Triple Crown season, I had found someone I'd pull for with all my heart for years to come.
Because the world only kept moving forward. And that meant it only kept trying to push Lukas into the past. The deep-pocketed owners who'd bankrolled his operation left the scene. Baffert's star grew brighter. Others like him emerged, some from Lukas's own barn. Age itself became an obstacle. Lukas never did return to that peak he'd reached when I first started following him.
As he reached his 70s and 80s, he accepted some of these limitations but never stopped believing that he could compete at the sport's top level. And amazingly, he managed to do just that more than once – always, it seemed, just as he was being written off yet again. This is what made being his fan such a joy.
Just over a year ago, I went to Baltimore to be part of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Preakness. All the focus was on Mystik Dan, who'd just won the Kentucky Derby. There was a Baffert horse too, coming in from California. And then there was old D. Wayne, all of 88 years old, sending out two of his own.
On the air, I picked one of them, Just Steel. As I watched the race, I focused on him and started to give up somewhere in the far turn. Then I noticed who was leading. It was the same horse who'd been leading from the start. It was Lukas's other horse. Seize the Grey. And I knew instantly: It's now or never. If D. Wayne was ever going to turn back the clock one more time, this was it. For the next 30 seconds, I shouted with everything I had. 'Hold on, Seize the Grey! Hold on!! Hold on!!' He did, and it was the happiest sports moment I've ever experienced.
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Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Clayton Kershaw becomes the 20th player — and possibly the last? — to 3,000 strikeouts
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With that, Kershaw became the 20th player ever to record 3,000 strikeouts. It's possible he's also the last to do it, at least for the foreseeable future, a testament to the longevity and sustained excellence that has defined his Hall of Fame career. In an age of openers, bullpen games, shortened starts, optimized arms and triple-digit velocity, Kershaw, who has recorded 200 strikeouts seven times and has never missed a full season in his illustrious 18-year career, perseveres as a lasting remnant of a bygone era. And though a litany of injuries over the last decade have zapped some of the life from his left arm and prevented the Dodgers' all-time leader in strikeouts and wins above replacement from remaining the workhorse he was when he won three Cy Young Awards, an MVP and a Triple Crown in his 20s, he persists. His fastball now sits in the high-80s in velocity, rather than the mid-90s, and his strikeout rate has steadily declined from his prime. But even without the overpowering stuff he once possessed, he continues to find ways to prevent runs, largely through precision, avoiding barrels, grit and guile. "He knows how to find outs," catcher Will Smith said. "He knows how to pitch." Using the same iconic pitching motion he learned from Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson, as if his hands and legs were on string, and featuring the same three-pitch mix that will one day get him a plaque in Cooperstown, Kershaw entered Wednesday with a 4-0 record and 2.08 ERA over his last eight starts. "It's just again a reminder for me, for anyone, to never bet against that guy," manager Dave Roberts said. "It doesn't matter health, stuff, he's going to will himself to doing whatever the team needs." The milestone performance required more determination than Kershaw would have preferred. He did not record his first strikeout against the White Sox until his 51st pitch of the night in the third inning. His next strikeout came on pitch No. 92, tied for the most he had thrown in a game this year, to end the fifth with the Dodgers down 4-2. On the walk down the steps to the dugout, there wasn't so much as a glance between Kershaw and Roberts. This was the veteran lefty's night. He emerged from the dugout to a standing ovation from the crowd that came to see him make history. He got a groundout to start the sixth inning. Michael A. Taylor followed with a double and was caught stealing at third base, sliding into the knee of Max Muncy, who was injured on the play. After a brief pause in the action, Kershaw resumed and ended the frame with his 3,000th strikeout on his 100th pitch of the night. He took his hat off to a raucous crowd and embraced his teammates. A video tribute played, and he retreated to the dugout briefly before emerging for a curtain call. Since the start of the live-ball era, Kershaw has the lowest ERA (2.51) and WHIP (1.01) among all pitchers who've thrown at least 1,500 innings. And since his age-30 season in 2018, only Jacob deGrom has a lower ERA than the Dodgers left-hander among pitchers who've thrown at least 750 innings in that span. Often, Kershaw's desire to play has required pitching through pain. He has dealt with back, elbow, biceps, shoulder, knee and foot injuries in recent years, the last three of which have required offseason procedures, but he keeps bouncing back. He has made the All-Star team three times in the last six years and 10 times in his distinguished career. Over the last 15 seasons, Kershaw has led the Dodgers in strikeouts 10 times and in innings pitched nine times. "Somebody will tell me to retire at some point, I'm sure," he quipped before making his debut this year. He has reached the point of his career, after electing to play on short-term deals with the only big-league club he has ever known, where the end of every season requires a decision. In November, at the championship parade, he emotionally claimed he was a "Dodger for life," before re-signing with the club, but he only wants to continue if he can still be effective and additive. He has now played more seasons with the club than any pitcher in franchise history. And yet again, as pitching injuries stockpile around him in the Dodgers' rotation, the team still needs his innings. "We all know what he means for baseball and this organization," teammate Miguel Rojas said, "and it's obviously really important to me playing behind him." Rojas has a different perspective than most. Eleven years ago, in the 11th game of Rojas' career, he was manning third base in the seventh inning on June 18, 2014, when he gloved a chopper down the line from Troy Tulowitzki near the outfield grass and completed the long throw across the diamond. The play saved the only no-hitter of Kershaw's career, a 15-strikeout, zero-walk masterpiece. Two weeks ago, playing behind Kershaw at third base and wearing the same No. 72 he did a decade ago in Los Angeles, Rojas had flashbacks to one of his favorite moments on a baseball field. "Looking back at that day and that opportunity to be in that lineup, something really special," said Rojas, who was again back at third base behind Kershaw on Thursday in Colorado. "I reflect on it, and every time I take the field behind him, I still feel like he's going to throw a no-hitter." Kershaw has not thrown another since that June day 11 years ago, but he has added plenty of pages to his Hall of Fame resumé in that time. Wednesday night's feat, three years after he became the Dodgers' all-time strikeout leader, was just the latest chapter. His manager could sense how much this one mattered to Kershaw. "There's still more work to be done in the season, but as far as his career, I think that this is the last box," Roberts said before the start. "This is it. He's won two championships, and he wants this. He wants to finish this marathon." Time and perspective have chipped away at Kershaw's intense facade. As years have passed, and injuries have accumulated, and his family has grown, and his children have gotten older, Kershaw has routinely expressed how appreciative he is every time he gets to take the mound. "I just want to be a contributing part of this team, so I'm excited to do that," Kershaw said before the season. "I don't take it for granted anymore to get to go out there and pitch at Dodger Stadium." He entered this year 32 strikeouts shy of 3,000, a mark only three other left-handers had ever reached before. When he decided to run it back with the Dodgers coming off knee and foot procedures, he claimed he hadn't thought about the milestone "a whole lot." As the number got closer this month, though, that changed — in part because teammate Freddie Freeman would remind him every day. In a seven-strikeout outing June 8, Kershaw passed teammate Zack Greinke on the all-time strikeout list with No. 2,980. Kershaw fanned five batters his next time out to move 12 strikeouts away. "Maybe by September I'll get there," he joked at the time. "We'll see. It's obviously a very cool thing and it's starting to get a little more on the forefront of the mind, but who knows how long 12 could take me at this point?" He would not need to wait that long, though it did drag further into his latest start than he might've liked. Kershaw struck out four Nationals batters on June 20 at Dodger Stadium to move eight away from the landmark number when he took the mound last week at Coors Field and struck out five batters while firing six innings of one-run ball, lowering his ERA on the season to 3.03. At 69 pitches, three strikeouts away from 3,000, Roberts decided Kershaw had done enough. He would get the opportunity to hit the mark at home, something Kershaw admitted "would be very special." "I kind of short-hooked him a little bit as far as pitch count," Roberts admitted, "but I just felt that was in Denver, and maybe, a little bit, I wanted him to do it here." Kershaw's first career strikeout came on a 95-mph fastball against Skip Schumaker, who was born in 1980. His 3,000th career strikeout came on a slider against Capra, who was born in 1996. With that, Kershaw joined Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer as the only active pitchers to reach the mark. 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Yu Darvish is the only other active pitcher with at least 2,000 strikeouts, but he's 38. At 32 years old, Aaron Nola has a chance, too, but he's still nearly 1,200 strikeouts shy of the mark. So if Sale or Cole don't get there, it might be at least a decade into the future before the next best contenders for 3,000 strikeouts emerge after Kershaw. "I don't think he's going to be the last to do it, but maybe at least for a little while," "said veteran Robbie Ray, who ranks 16th among active pitchers in strikeouts. "It's a short list, for sure; 3,000 is a lot of strikeouts. You have to throw a lot of innings to get to that. But there's some young guys coming up that are pretty impressive and put up some big strikeout numbers, so I don't think anything's out of the question." At 23, Paul Skenes might have the physicality to hold up for the long haul as a perennial ace, but he's only 239 innings and 280 strikeouts into his career. At 28, Tarik Skubal has the elite arm talent to get there. But entering this year, injuries limited him to an average of 135 innings and 153 strikeouts over the previous four years. Even if he had another 200-strikeout season this year, he would have to average 150 strikeouts every season and pitch into his 40s to approach the mark. Spencer Strider, Hunter Greene and MacKenzie Gore have all accumulated more than 500 strikeouts before the age of 27, but it will take tremendous consistency and health to eventually approach 3,000. Neither Greene, who underwent Tommy John surgery six years ago, nor Gore has recorded a 200-strikeout season yet. Strider has two under his belt, but he's coming off a major elbow procedure that wiped out most of his 2024 season. "The longevity, the consistency, is something that should be valued certainly a lot more," Roberts said. Kershaw was the fastest Dodger ever to reach 1,000 strikeouts in 2013. Four years later, he became the fastest to reach 2,000. He's now the only Dodger to reach the 3,000-strikeout mark while recording all of his punchouts with the franchise. Before Wednesday, only four pitchers had recorded 3,000 strikeouts with one team. Only two, Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson, had accomplished the feat while playing for just one team their entire career. Kershaw, among his many achievements as a Dodger, is now the third. "He's going to have a statue at some point," Roberts said. "We're trying to win a baseball game, but big moments like this are bigger than the game." Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner . FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
Panthers receiver Xavier Legette helped stranded person on ATV in wild scene
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Fox Sports
16 hours ago
- Fox Sports
2025 NFL Odds: Early Lines For Every Monday Night Matchup
The 2025-26 NFL season is just around the corner, with teams wrapping up minicamps and training camps set to begin soon. And one of the most notable staples of every NFL season is, of course, Monday Night Football. An NFC North rivalry game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears will kick off this year's MNF schedule. In Weeks 2, 4, 6 and 7, fans will see doubleheaders, while the Week 18 slot is on hold until the league decides which teams will be flexed. Who are the early favorites in each matchup? Let's check out the lines for each Monday Night Football game at DraftKings Sportsbook as of July 2. 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Commanders +160 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 48.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 9, NOV. 3 Cardinals @ Cowboys (8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN) Point spread: Cowboys -1.5 (Cowboys favored to win by more than 1.5 points, otherwise Cardinals cover) Moneyline: Cowboys -120 favorites to win; Cardinals +100 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 47.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 10, NOV. 10 Eagles @ Packers (8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN) Point spread: Eagles -1.5 (Eagles favored to win by more than 1.5 points, otherwise Packers cover) Moneyline: Eagles -122 favorites to win; Packers +102 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 45.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 11, NOV. 17 Cowboys @ Raiders (8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN) Point spread: Cowboys -1.5 (Cowboys favored to win by more than 1.5 points, otherwise Raiders cover) Moneyline: Cowboys -120 favorites to win; Raiders +100 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 45.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 12, NOV. 24 Panthers @ 49ers (8:15 p.m., ESPN) Point spread: 49ers -7 (49ers favored to win by more than 7 points, otherwise Panthers cover) Moneyline: 49ers -298 favorites to win; Panthers +240 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 46.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 13, DEC. 1 Giants @ Patriots (8:15 p.m., ESPN) Point spread: Patriots -3 (Patriots favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Giants cover) Moneyline: Patriots -155 favorites to win; Giants +130 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 42.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 14, DEC. 8 Eagles @ Chargers (8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN) Point spread: Eagles -2.5 (Eagles favored to win by more than 2.5 points, otherwise Chargers cover) Moneyline: Eagles -130 favorites to win; Chargers +130 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 45.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 15, DEC. 15 Dolphins @ Steelers (8:15 p.m., ESPN) Point spread: Steelers -2.5 (Steelers favored to win by more than 2.5 points, otherwise Dolphins cover) Moneyline: Steelers -135 favorites to win; Dolphins +114 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 42.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 16, DEC. 22 49ers @ Colts (8:15 p.m., ESPN) Point spread: 49ers -3 (49ers favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Colts cover) Moneyline: 49ers -162 favorites to win; Colts +136 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 46.5 points scored by both teams combined WEEK 17, DEC. 29 Rams @ Falcons (8:15 p.m., ESPN) Point spread: Rams -3 (Rams favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Falcons cover) Moneyline: Rams -162 favorites to win; Falcons +136 underdogs to win Total scoring Over/Under: 46.5 points scored by both teams combined Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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