By his own recollection, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been coming to Baltimore for the Preakness for 45 straight years.

“Might have missed a year,” Lukas said.

The 89-year-old rolled into town Sunday afternoon – the first Preakness trainer on the grounds – and he’ll have six horses to run this weekend. He is hoping that American Promise, who was set to arrive Monday afternoon, can give him his eighth Preakness win. That would tie him with fellow Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for the most Preakness wins.

“All of my thoughts here are pleasant,” Lukas said, sitting on a bench outside his office at the Pimlico Stakes Barn. “I have always enjoyed every minute I have been here. This has always been one of my favorites and I speak for the other trainers, too. I have never talked to a trainer who worked through the Preakness that did not enjoy this one the most.”

When pressed to take a walk down his personal Preakness memory lane, Lukas came up with the 1994 victory with Tabasco Cat.

That was the horse that ran over Lukas’ late son and assistant, Jeff, in December of 1993.

“We were trying to make something positive out of that,” Lukas said. “Jeff was pretty much in a coma recovering during that Preakness. And the ownership was wonderful, two of my dear friends, (the late) David Reynolds and W. T. Young.”

A year ago, Lukas provided one of the feel-good stories in racing when Seize the Grey took the lead in the Preakness from the start and never gave it up.

Seize the Grey won the race at odds of nearly 10-1.

“Some of my best wins over the years have been with some real, real big longshots,” Lukas said. “Last year, with Seize the Grey, I don’t think anyone was figuring on him until about the eighth pole.”

American Promise, owned by BC Stables LLC, is coming off a 16th place finish in the Kentucky Derby after a less than desirable trip.

Lukas, who has saddled a record 48 Preakness starters, said he will be aboard his pony Bucky and will accompany American Promise to the Pimlico surface, probably starting on Tuesday.

“He has had good days since the Kentucky Derby,” Lukas said. “He is really doing well. I might let him catch his stride through the stretch or I may not. I feel good about American Promise.”