Lukas hospitalized after health scare

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas suffered a health scare Saturday night while in Pennsylvania but was doing well Sunday morning, according to various media outlets.

Lukas had Mr. Z entered in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and champion Take Charge Brandi for the Cotillion S. (G1) at Parx Racing, and intended to watch the races at the track.

However, the 80-year-old trainer wasn’t feeling well on Saturday and was taken to the hospital, where tests revealed a low heart rate.

While a Sunday morning tweet from Ahmed Zayat indicated Lukas suffered a heart attack, it was later clarified that wasn’t so.

Various reports indicate the 80-year-old trainer will have a pacemaker/defibrillator installed. The DRF’s Jim Dunleavy reported that procedure was actually scheduled for Sunday with a catherization set for Monday.

D. Wayne Lukas photo courtesy of NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography