Dragoon Guard wins the Gr.2 Lukas Classic

Dragoon Guard, winner of the 2024 Gr.3 Indiana Derby and Gr.3 West Virginia Derby, added his third career Graded stakes success at Churchill Downs on Saturday with a win in the Group 2 Lukas Classic.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 27th September 2026:

Backed at 3-1, he was bumped at the start and settled into fourth rounding the clubhouse turn as they flew through an opening quarter in :22.59. The grey rolled up three deep beneath the hot-handed Tyler Gaffalione heading into the far turn, took over from Chunk of Gold approaching the quarter pole and rolled home a much-the-best winner. With the victory, Gaffalione became only the 13th jockey to win six races in a day at Churchill Downs.

"It's been a really special day winning six races and two stakes," Gaffalione said. "This race is always very special and I'm thankful to the connections for letting me ride (Dragoon Guard). He made a big run for me."

"It had been a while since he'd won a Graded stakes after what he accomplished at three," winning trainer Brad Cox said. "He didn't accomplish quite what we hoped at four, and it had been somewhat of the same story this year. He came into today in good form, had trained well and we felt like we were going to get a good run out of him. I thought it was very impressive. We'll see how things shape up over the next month. It was an impressive performance, but we don't have to make any decisions today."