Trainer Todd Luther hopes to celebrate his birthday a little early when Why Not Now competes in the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie on Saturday, June 8 at MGM Northfield Park.
Luther, who turns another year older on June 15, began his training career in 2005. Coming off three straight seasons of more than 100 wins and $2 million in purses, his stats stand at 683 wins and more than $9.6 million in career earnings as of press time.
While he played baseball growing up, Luther always found time to watch the races, but he wished he had more time to delve into the business. That changed not long after graduating high school, when his grandfather, trainer John Robinson, got sick and passed away.
"I helped my brother (Greg) and grandpa; both were heavily involved in racing," said Luther. "They taught me what I am lucky to know now and that education has paid dividends."
Following his grandfather's death, Luther knew he wanted to carry on his legacy. Luther has since developed some of the Midwest's best-stakes horses. Training the likes of Katies Lucky Day, Catch The Fire, Captain Kirk, and Rose Run Yolanda has given Luther a sense of pride.
"I love Ohio; it's home for me," said Luther. "We have a great stakes program, better than any state. Winning races like the Battle is something you dream of."
Luther lives in Ohio with his fiancé, Toni Dale Hollar, and has three children, Skyler, Lainey, and Ellie. Having three kids and a stable full of horses can sometimes be difficult, but he is happy having a partner in crime by his side. "Toni is what holds us all together. She's amazing. She is the backbone of the family, and I couldn't do this job without her and the support she gives me."
Saturday will be Luther's third try to win the Battle of Lake Erie; he last tried with Catch The Fire in 2021 (third) and again in 2022 (fifth). With victory so close he could taste it, Luther says he is ready for another date with destiny. "I'd love to win the Battle, my team and I have been so close, it makes you really want it."
On Saturday, the Luthers bring four-year-old Why Not Now — owned by Greg and trainer by Todd — to the Home of the Flying Turns. To win the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie, Why Not Now will have to do something only one horse has done previously, win from post eight. The only other horse to win from the outside was Bono Bests (Keith Kash Jr.) in 2008.
"The draw wasn't kind to us, and it is definitely not something you want, but they will be mixing it up early, and anything can happen," chuckled Luther. "When you get Danny (Noble) in the bike, that's always a plus because horses respond to him like no other. I don't have a strategy going into the race; I will talk with Danny, and the rest is up to him."
While Why Not Now was winless at two, the son of Always A Virgin garnered $89,715 in earnings, getting a cheque in all but two starts of his freshman campaign.
Why Not Now turned things as a three-year-old, winning four straight to kick off his sophomore season. After a win in the first leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes, he roared to a 1:50.1 victory in the $80,000 Hoosier Cup and came right back the following week in the $135,500 Jennas Beach Boy with an eye-popping 1:48.2 effort.
Victories in the Indiana Super Final and the $260,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace at Dover Downs (pictured above) followed to conclude the year, when Luther's interest in the pacer started to peak.
"We watched him race last year during the Indiana Sires Stakes, and he always showed great speed. At the end of the year, he just kept getting better and better, and after the Progress Pace, Greg said, 'I'm buying him,'" said Luther.
The connections decided that Why Not Now would perform double duty, breeding and racing as a four-year-old, so the Luthers sent their newest purchase to Daryl Miller in Indiana due to his proximity to the breeding farm. "I went over when I could and trained him. I instantly knew he was something special," said Luther. Double duty hasn't seemed to bother him. He looks great, is keeping weight on, and you can tell he's excited to get back racing."
When the time came to qualify Why Not Now his connections were thrilled with what they saw; in his return to the races, he won by nine lengths in 1:50.4. The brothers weren't as happy with his second qualifier, and while he won, he didn't appear to be as sharp. "He was in to go the night before his second qualifier, and they canceled. We elected to qualify him, so he got Lasix for the second time that morning, and I think that played a role in it."
Luther shipped Why Not Now for the $66,500 Graduate leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park for his first start of 2024. He sat just off the pace and rallied late to be fourth, only beaten two lengths. "I was really happy with him in Canada, " stated Luther. "I wish we would have got a little room to get out late, but that's racing. I couldn't have asked for a better first start."
Dubbed "Hydro" by his conditioner, Why Not Now reminds Luther of former pupil Catch The Fire. "You can tell he loves what he does and wants to win. I can't wait to see what the season brings for him. He could be the best horse I've ever trained."
The field for Saturday's Battle of Lake Erie is as follows:
$200,000 USD Battle of Lake Erie Free-For-All Invitational Pace
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Linedrive Hanover - Aaron Merriman - Tony Beaton
2. Bythemissal - Chris Page - Ron Burke
3. Coaches Corner - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
4. Carbine - Austin Hanners - Virgil Morgan Jr.
5. Hellabalou - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
6. Little Rocket Man - Jeremy Smith - Ken Rucker
7. Charlie May - Brett Miller - Steve Carter
8. Why Not Now - Dan Noble - Todd Luther
9. Desperate Man - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
Full entries for Saturday are available here.
(with files from MGM Northfield Park)