LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- For the first time since 1980, trainer D. Wayne Lukas won't have an entry in the Kentucky Derby.

Lukas, who has won the past two Derbys and seven of the past eight Triple Crown races, said Monday he will be just a spectator for the 123rd Kentucky Derby on May 3.

"I am at a point in my life, where after having some success, I want to be very competitive, or at least feel like I have some legitimate chance to win," he said. "When one of those horses didn't show up, I think that made the decision for us."

LUKAS NOMINATED 23 3-YEAR-OLDS for the Derby. His top contender, juvenile champion Boston Harbor, broke his left foreleg in February, dropping him out of the Derby picture.

His highly regarded filly, Sharp Cat, finished sixth out of 10 contenders in the Santa Anita Derby, her first race against the boys. Lukas said Monday she will start in the Kentucky Oaks, the Derby for fillies, on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

His final hope, Deeds Not Words, finished a disappointing third in the Lexington Stakes Sunday at Keeneland.

"The Derby is the Derby, and it stands on its own merits, and records and all that are not important," Lukas said. "Just to lead Deeds Not Words over there to just say we were in it for the 17th straight time, I have no feel for that. ... If we could go over there with a legitimate chance to win that's one thing. But just to be in it, I'm not interested in that."

LUKAS ALSO DENIED HE MIGHT PURCHASE interest in a Derby-bound horse.

"When you stop and look at it I've been so blessed with this race and other races in the Triple Crown," he said. "I think I can sit back and watch it and cheer for some of the other guys without having it affect me one way or the other."

Lukas' first Derby entry, Partez in 1981, finished third. He won his first Derby in 1988 with the filly Winning Colors. He won the 1995 Derby with Thunder Gulch and last year's title with Grindstone.

He had a string of six consecutive Triple Crown victories broken in last year's Preakness by Nick Zito-trained Louis Quatorze but rebounded with a victory in the Belmont with Editor's Note.

Bailey new Phantom On Tour jockey

"The way this game has played out, Jerry Bailey is sitting there without a mount," Whiting said. "I don't think you could leave Michael Jordan on the bench in the last minute of the game. ...

BAILEY WON LAST YEAR'S DERBY aboard Grindstone and is scheduled to work Phantom On Tour in a 7-furlong move Thursday morning.

"Larry accepted this like the gentleman he is. He understands. The door is not closed to Larry. If the opportunity comes back for him, he can certainly regain the mount.

"I'm very appreciative of the work Larry has done with this horse. He's been with him and right on him all the time. When we have breezed him for a race, Larry has always been the pilot. He's done a fine job with this horse."

Lukas talks about his horses

I'm A Jewel comes up golden in California Derby

Laffit Pincay sighting at California track

Trek to the Triple Crown