BREEDERS CUP Female Azeri is Classic-bound

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is going after his record 18th victory on horse racing's biggest stage.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (AP) -- The king of Breeders' Cup trainers is pursuing his record 18th victory on horse racing's biggest stage in a surprising way.
D. Wayne Lukas said Azeri will run against the boys in the $4 million Classic, instead of the $2 million Distaff, where the 2002 Horse of the Year would have been the likely favorite.
Azeri won the Distaff in 2002 but was injured and did not run in last year's race. By choosing the tougher Classic for the 6-year-old mare, Lukas is taking a shot at history.
Rarity
She will be just the third female to run in the 1 1/4-mile Classic since the Breeders' Cup began in 1984, and would be the first to win it. Triptych was sixth in 1986, and Jolypha was third in 1992.
"We're going to swing for the fences," Lukas said Tuesday. "She's already won the Distaff. We're going to see if we can do something that hasn't been done before."
Azeri was pre-entered in the Distaff and the Classic, and it was believed Lukas was leaning toward running her in the Distaff. After talking things over with owner Michael Paulson, though, the decision was made to give it another try against males.
"She's very good right now," Lukas said.
Paulson weighed the pros and cons of challenging the boys, then told Lukas he was going to go for it.
"He agonized over it," Lukas said.
Trainer, rider canned
Azeri is coming off a victory in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland nearly three weeks ago. She has three victories in seven starts since Lukas took over as her trainer this year. Paulson fired Laura de Seroux after Azeri's 11-race winning streak was snapped last year. Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who rode Azeri to 15 wins in 18 starts, was dumped, too.
The mare has won 17 of 23 starts and earned $3,959,820.
Azeri ran against males for the first time at Belmont Park on May 31, finishing eighth in the Metropolitan Mile. Lukas compared Azeri's challenge to a poker game.
"This is Texas. The Breeders' Cup is kind of a Texas Hold 'Em, and we're going all-in," he said. "We're going to play our queen."
The 69-year-old trainer has a record 140 Breeders' Cup starters, with 17 victories and more than $18 million in earnings.
Trainer's pattern
Lukas has never been reluctant to send out females against males, especially in the biggest races. The Hall of Famer won the 1988 Kentucky Derby with filly Winning Colors, and filly Serena's Song was 16th in the '95 Derby. The Classic is the richest race in North America.
"I'm very excited to lead her over there for $4 million," Lukas said. "I don't care who shows up."
Post position draw for the eight Breeders' Cup races is today.
The Classic field features defending champion Pleasantly Perfect, Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone, Whitney Handicap winner Roses in May, Woodward Handicap winner Ghostzapper, and 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide.
Quote revised
"I wish she was in the Distaff," said Ken Ramsey, who owns Roses in May. "My daddy used to say, 'Ladies first, except when climbing ladders.' We're going to change that. It's, 'Ladies first, except for the Breeders' Cup Classic."'
Lukas' move means trainer Murray Johnson needs another rider for Classic entrant Perfect Drift. Pat Day was going to be aboard Johnson's horse, unless Azeri was entered in the Classic. Now, Kent Desormeaux will ride Perfect Drift, who will make his third appearance in the race. The 5-year-old gelding was sixth last year at Santa Anita and last in 2002 at Arlington Park.