Golden Seductress May End Lukas’ Drought

On the 47th day of Santa Anita’s 84-day winter-spring meet, a drought could come to an end.

Trainer Wayne Lukas, who has won 456 races at Santa Anita during his career, ninth on the all-time list, could win his first race of the season this afternoon.

A loser with his first 53 starters, Lukas may end the dry spell with Golden Seductress in the first race, a 6 1/2-furlong contest for 3-year-old maiden fillies running for a $62,500 claiming price.

Owned by David Tam, Golden Seductress, a daughter of Distorted Humor purchased for $35,000 at the Keeneland September sale, has improved in each of her three races and looks like the controlling speed as she makes her first appearance in a claimer.

Golden Seductress, who has six opponents, will be ridden by Javier Santiago, who has made a favorable impression in his first few weeks in California since arriving from Puerto Rico.

A.C. Avila, another trainer who has yet to win at the meet, will send out longshots Caperex in the fourth and Sure Caper in the eighth. Avila is 0 for 42. Like Lukas, only eight of his horses have finished second or third.

Race of the day: Timely Jeff, who ran away from maidens going six furlongs Feb. 5, will try to win around two turns for trainer Doug O’Neill in today’s seventh at Santa Anita. The $52,000 optional claimer for California-breds at one mile also lured Robert’s Tribute, Juan, Swordfish, Oro Desert, Devil Badgett, Eric Da Bomb and Geardown.

One for the road: Family Business should appreciate the stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in today’s eighth at the Fair Grounds. The Saint Ballado filly showed big improvement the second time out for trainer Dallas Stewart, and the $200,000 yearling purchase isn’t facing a strong field in the $28,000 maiden affair.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Two Thirty Seven in the sixth, Geardown, Timely Jeff, Oro Desert and Swordfish in the seventh, and Thirtyfiveblack and Heaven’s Cat in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 5/141. Money: Previous day/meet total: $22.60/$760.20. Total money bet: $788.