Lookin At Lucky goes to head of 3YO class in G1 Haskell

Sunday | August 01, 2010


Lookin At Lucky simply overwhelmed the field in the $1 million Haskell (G1) Aug. 1 at Monmouth Park, vaulting himself to the head of the 3-year-old class as the 2010 racing season begins its run-up to the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs.

The Haskell is the traditional kick-off of major 3-year-old stakes following the Triple Crown. Lookin At Lucky won the Preakness (G1) following a terrible trip from the rail in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he checked in sixth, the only off-the-board finish in 11 lifetime starts.

Lookin At Lucky drew the rail once again for the Haskell, much to the chagrin of his trainer Bob Baffert. This time, however, his colt had only six foes, not the 19 of the Derby. Still, the field was very good, with Derby winner and runner-up Super Saver and Ice Box, Preakness second-place finisher First Dude, and the up-and-comer Trappe Shot, who had put up back-to-back 105 Beyer Speed Figures and was riding a four-race win streak.

Martin Garcia, who rode Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness, was aboard once again in the Haskell. When a trio of horses shot out in front of “Lucky”, Garcia took back and swung off the rail for the run around the first turn. Always in a good spot while in fourth down the backstretch, Garcia gave his colt a cue to move going into the far turn. He immediately went to the front, with Super Saver briefly keeping pace. But once they hit the stretch, the big bay son of Smart Strike took off, leaving the rest of the field to fight it out for the minor awards. The margin only got wider in the final furlong, with the final number four lengths. The official time was 1:49.83. Trappe Shot closed from sixth place to be second, with pacesetter First Dude nosing out Super Saver for the show spot.

Besides establishing himself as one of the best 3-year-olds this year, Lookin At Lucky also gave Baffert a record fourth win in the Haskell. His other winners were Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002), and Roman Ruler (2005).

Baffert knew his horse would run well, but he was still super-impressed afterwards. “Today, he was phenomenal. He broke fine and Martin eased him to the outside,” Baffert said. “I knew we’d lose a little bit of ground, but that was the winning move. This was really a break-out race.”

Lookin at Lucky is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. After winning the Haskell, their colt’s record now stands at 8-1-1, with earnings of $2,713,000.  

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