Latest news with #BCStables
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Personal Decision': Bas Nicholl Will Not Continue As Head Trainer
'Personal Decision': Bas Nicholl Will Not Continue As Head Trainer originally appeared on Paulick Report. Sebastian 'Bas' Nicholl, who assumed control of the D. Wayne Lukas barn after the Hall of Fame trainer passed on June 28, will no longer serve as head trainer, reports Daily Racing Form.'I decided not to continue as a racehorse trainer. I do plan to continue as an assistant trainer,' Nicholl told Daily Racing Form Tuesday afternoon. 'It was a personal decision, not something I really want to discuss. It was a very amicable decision, everyone's all good friends. We're going to go ahead and move on.'Nicholl said he has received several offers to continue working as an assistant trainer, but will first help the Lukas family with details regarding Lukas' estate. Nicholl, a native of England, spent eight years in the British Army and rose to the rank of captain. He was a tank commander in Operation Desert Storm during the First Gulf War in the early 1990s. Nicholl left the British Army in 1995 to work in horse racing for prominent Irish steeplechase trainer Edward O'Grady. In 1999, he came to the United States to work with trainer Pat Byrne before joining Lukas' operation on Jan. 18, remaining horses in Nicholl's string will be dispersed. John Bellinger and Brian Coelho of BC Stables told DRF they will send 15 horses (11 2-year-olds) to trainer Steve Asmussen, including Virginia Derby winner American Promise (currently getting a break at a farm).Calumet Farm's racing manager, Eddie Kane, told DRF that his operation has moved horses to trainer Eoin Harty, Rusty Arnold, and Brendan more at This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
American Promise trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
American Promise trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Kentucky Derby 2025 contender American Promise train at Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby 2025 contender American Promise trains at Churchill Downs April 23. Trainer is D. Wayne Lukas. Jockey Nik Jaurez slated to ride. American Promise will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Virginia Derby on March 15 American Promise trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby four times, most recently in 1999 American Promise is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September. The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 26. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. American Promise will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Virginia Derby on March 15 at Colonial Downs. He currently ranks 14th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 55. Color: Chestnut. Bred in: Kentucky. Sire: Justify. Dam: Tapella, by Tapit. Price tag: $750,000 at 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Owner: BC Stables (John Bellinger, Brian Coelho). They're 0 for 1 in the Derby, finishing 17th with Just Steel last year. Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas. He's 4 for 50 in the Derby, winning with Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999). Jockey: Nik Juarez. First Derby. Record: 2-1-1 in nine starts. Career earnings: $444,874. Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 55 (No. 14). Last race: Won Virginia Derby on March 15 at Colonial Downs by 7 ¾ lengths over Render Judgment. Running style: Near the pace early. Notes: American Promise needed six races to break his maiden, finally doing so Dec. 29 at Oaklawn Park. That chase included three races at Churchill Downs, where American Promise finished eighth, second and fourth. He finished off the board in a pair of graded stakes earlier this year — seventh in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park and fifth in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. … The 89-year-old Lukas had missed the Kentucky Derby every year from 2019-23 but broke the skid last year with Just Steel. … Sons of Justify did not fare well in last year's Kentucky Derby, with Just Steel finishing 17th and Just a Touch finishing 20th in the 20-horse field. What they're saying: 'He's maturing and doing so well that I think I can train him without subjecting him to another race,' Lukas said of the time off since winning the Virginia Derby. 'You never know how that race is going to go. You think it's going to move him forward, but it isn't a cinch. There are things that can happen.' Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032. The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms. You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock. Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. More horse racing: Set for second Kentucky Derby, St. Xavier grad Whit Beckman hopes for better racing luck Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@ Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ. This story was updated to add a gallery.
