Churchill renames stakes race for Hall of Fame trainer Lukas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Churchill Downs has renamed a stakes race to honor Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

The $175,000 Lukas Classic for 3-year-olds and up on dirt on Sept. 26 will wind down the upcoming 11-date meet at the track he has won the marquee Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks for fillies four times each.

Lukas will turn 80 on Sept. 2. His stables are based in Barn 44 at Churchill, where the four-time Eclipse Award winner ranks second with 73 stakes wins and fourth with 510 victories overall.

Introduced in 2013 as the Homecoming Classic and intended to be a prep race for the Breeders' Cup Classic, the 1 1/8 mile race is among eight stakes events worth $1.025 million to be held during the meet that opens Sept. 11.