Luster to skip Triple Crown races for extended break

King’s Plate champion Luster will take an extended break and will not attempt to win the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. Trainer Josie Carroll announced that the filly will skip the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on Sept. 7 and the $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes on Sept. 27.

Luster has already competed in five races this season, securing four wins and one third-place finish, including a dominant 7 1/4-length victory in the $1-million King’s Plate on Aug. 15 and a 5 1/2-length win in the $750,000 Woodbine Oaks on July 19. Carroll noted that because Luster is still young, the decision was made to avoid overworking her.

Instead of pursuing the Triple Crown, connections are considering entering Luster in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 11, a turf event for three-year-old fillies.