D Wayne Lukas

Shotgun edged Forever Dancer by the slimmest of margins in the $94,750 Hawthorne Juvenile Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course on Sunday. The track's placing judges required about seven minutes to determine that Shotgun, ridden by Scott E. Miller, had gained a nostril decision to earn first place money of $56,850 in the 63rd running of the 1 1/6-mile race for 2-year-olds. Shotgun, trained and co-owned by D. Wayne Lukas, was timed in 1:45 35 over a fast track.

Criminal Type, a leading contender for Horse of the Year, will not race again this year because of a leg problem. "The feeling is that he would not be 100% for the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders' Cup, therefore we did not want to take a chance and run the horse," trainer Jeff Lukas said today at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old was to have run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday at Belmont and the $3-million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 27, also at Belmont.

Spain, a 5-year-old mare who earned a record $3.5 million, most recently sharing purses after a win and a third-place finish while in foal, has been retired. Prince Ahmed bin Salman's Thoroughbred Corp., the breeder and owner of Spain, said she has been sent to Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., where she is due to deliver a foal next April. Spain finished with $3,540,542 in purses, winning nine of 35 races. She also had nine seconds and seven thirds.

Stewards at Arlington International Racecourse have rejected a protest challenging a switch in the lineup of Saturday's $600,000 Arlington Challenge Cup. Stewards ruled Monday that trainer D. Wayne Lukas could remove from the lineup Criminal Type, the nation's top-ranked horse in the Thoroughbred Racing Communications poll. Lucas will be allowed to enter another of the horses he trains, last year's national grass champion, Steinlen.

Criminal Type, Go for Wand and Unbridled have been named finalists for Horse of the Year in balloting for the 1990 Eclipse Awards. The awards, determined by a national vote of racing writers, will be announced Feb. 9. The finalists in other categories: 2-year-old Colt--Best Pal, Eastern Echo, Fly So Free. 2-year-old Filly--Cuddles, Meadow Star, Private Treasure. 3-year-old Colt--Housebuster, Summer Squall, Unbridled. 3-year-old Filly--Charon, Go for Wand, Valay Maid.

The Derby Trial measured pretty high on this Richter Scale. No. 1, to be exact. Richter Scale took command at the quarter pole and won the milelong Derby Trial by five lengths over favored Trafalger on opening day Saturday at Churchill Downs. Precocity was third, another 1 1/2 lengths back and a nose in front of Partner's Hero. Once again, it appears the Derby Trial will not live up to its name.

Easy Goer, whom some compare to Secretariat, drew the No. 14 post position today--the far outside spot in the main gate--for his first major test of greatness Saturday against 15 other colts in the Kentucky Derby. Easy Goer, who will be ridden by Pat Day, was made a 3-5 early favorite, coupled in the betting with stablemate Awe Inspiring. An auxiliary gate will be used for the 15th and 16th post positions, occupied by 50-1 outsiders Wind Splitter and Northern Wolf. Easy Goer's trainer, Shug McGaughey, said he could live with the draw.

The $104,500 Las Madrinas Handicap for fillies and mares highlights Friday's action at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona. Jockeys Gary Stevens and Robbie Davis each make their first appearances of the Fairplex meet in the Las Madrinas, but it is unlikely either will be aboard the favorite. A Wild Ride, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and Sassy Slew, which has finished third or better in nine of 11 outings this year, figure to vie for the favorite's mantle in the 1 1/16th-mile race.

The man currently owning the biggest mint julep in horse racing smiled and shrugged a lot Wednesday at the Preakness draw. Carl Nafzger said it was fine that the horse he trains, Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, drew the No. 8 post position in the nine-horse field for Saturday's 132nd running of the Preakness. He said he was fine with the 7-5 morning line odds that made his horse the solid betting favorite.