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Lukas Bids For Another Debutante With Dance Daily Romans Focuses Kitten's Joy On Arlington Million Perfect Drift Now Looking Toward Washington Park 'Cap

Lukas has won the race a record six times and will be looking to improve on that number - and win the race for a third consecutive year - when he saddles Robert and Beverly Lewis' Dance Daily in Saturday's 105th running of the 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies.

Out of the first crop of sprint sire Five Star Day, Dance Daily is coming off a fifth-place finish against males in the $100,000-added Three Chimneys Juvenile on Kentucky Derby Day. She dueled for the lead with the impressive winner Half Ours before she faltered that day. But prior to that she dazzled fans at Keeneland when she overcame several obstacles to win her 4 1/2-furlong racing debut on April 20.

Dance Daily bobbled at the start in her debut and immediately found herself behind horses. But despite her early problems, she managed to extricate herself from those traffic woes and won by a comfortable two lengths.

"I was impressed with that one," said Lukas. "She's a very talented filly and that worked out very well. I probably brought her back against the colts a little bit quick, but I liked the one at Keeneland."

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed Dance Daily as a 6-1 risk in a field of nine 2-year-old fillies in the Debutante. She has trained brilliantly for Saturday's race - including a four-furlong work in a swift :46.60 on Saturday that was the fastest of 49 moves at the distance - and Lukas expects both a strong run in the Debutante and a promising future.

"I didn't want her to do that - I wanted her to go in :48 or :49," said Lukas. "I hope it wasn't too quick. But the fact that she does that in the mornings makes me think that she probably put it together in the afternoon."

Dance Daily was bred by J.C. Davis Farm near Henderson, Ky. A Debutante win would put her in a strong group of Lukas-trained winners that includes Burnished Bright (1986), Icy Folly (1989), Golden Attraction (1995), Love Lock (1997), Be Gentle (2003) and Classic Elegance (2004). Lukas knows she is fast and he believes she has the potential to be a very good filly.

"I think she's going to do really well," said Lukas. "I don't know about two-turns later on in her 3-year-old year - that remains to be seen. She's by a sire that gets fast horses and she's certainly fast. But I think at this point in her career going into mid-July, I think it's going to look pretty good."

ROMANS FOCUS KITTEN'S JOY ON ARLINGTON MILLION - Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Joy, the reigning American turf champion, is reported to be in good shape after his dazzling win in Monday's $250,000-added Firecracker Breeders' Cup (GII) and trainer Dale Romans has focused his attention on the colt's scheduled run in the Arlington Million (GI) on Aug. 13.

"He came out of the race great," said Romans.

The race was the first for the 4-year-old son of El Prado since his upset loss to Better Talk Now in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (GI) at Lone Star Park. He subsequently underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from his left knee and then lost an estimated six weeks of training because of the strangles quarantine in Florida.

"It was a phenomenal race and great effort out of him," said Romans. "It was better than I ever could have expected. He came home 10-and-change after running seven-eighths of a mile. That was pretty impressive."

PERFECT DRIFT HEADED TO WASHINGTON PARK 'CAP - With a trip to California for Saturday's Hollywood Gold Cup (GI) scrubbed because of a minor eye problem, trainer Murray Johnson has listed the $300,000-added Washington Park Handicap (GII) at Arlington Park as the next start for veteran star Perfect Drift.

Johnson said a small ulcer in the eye of the 6-year-old gelded son of Dynaformer is not a major problem, but could have complicated his trip to Hollywood Park.

"It's just a little problem, but we didn't really want to end up on the other side of the country and have it flare up," said Johnson. "We'll just take care of it. It's doing really well. He'll work on Saturday and we'll point toward the Washington Park."

Perfect Drift won the Washington Park Handicap by five lengths in 2003, but did not run in last year's renewal. He finished third to Saint Liam in his most recent start in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), a race Johnson's star won in 2003. WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Bashford Manor (GIII) contender Music School breezed three furlongs in :37.40 ... Fly Me Now, another Bashford Manor hopeful, breezed three furlongs in :36.80 for trainer Bernie Flint.