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Lucky rolls in Indiana Derby Off since a convincing victory in the August 1 Haskell Invitational (G1), LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) showed no signs of rust when returning to the races in Saturday's $510,900 Indiana Derby (G2), rallying into contention on the far turn and taking command in the stretch with an impressive turn of foot. The Bob Baffert-trained colt went last-to-first in the slop under regular rider Martin Garcia, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths. Indy Bull (Bull Market) led through opening fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 4/5, with Lookin at Lucky nearly eight lengths behind the pacesetter after a half-mile. Thiskyhasnolimit (Sky Mesa) surged to the front entering the far turn, completing six furlongs in 1:11 2/5 with a 1 1/2-length lead, but Lookin at Lucky was launching a furious rally from the back of the pack. Lookin at Lucky circled rivals on the final bend and entered the stretch with a head full of steam on the far outside. Thiskyhasnolimit gamely battled on, reaching the eight-furlong mark in 1:36 3/5 with a head advantage, but Lookin at Lucky blew past him in the final sixteenth of a mile, finishing 1 1/16 miles over the sloppy and sealed Hoosier Park track in 1:43 2/5. Favored at 2-5, Lookin at Lucky paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10 to his many supporters. Thiskyhasnolimit was off as the 6-1 second choice and returned $3.40 and $3 for his commendable runner-up effort. It was 3 3/4 lengths back to the 14-1 St. Maximus Gato (Tactical Cat), who yielded $5.80 and was followed under the wire by Worldly (A.P. Indy), Litigation Risk (Closing Argument), Uareoutlaw (Brz) (Christine's Outlaw), Indy Bull, Nacho Friend (Friends Lake) and Dabossman (Drewman). The exotics totaled $12.40 (exacta), $110.80 (trifecta) and $411.40 (6-2-9-3 superfecta). Named champion two-year-old in 2009, Lookin at Lucky has now compiled eight stakes wins. Saturday's $294,278 payday pushed his earnings past the $3 million plateau ($3,007,278) and his career line reads 12-9-1-1. He broke his maiden in his initial try last July at Hollywood Park and went on to take his next three starts -- the 6 1/2-furlong Best Pal S. (G2), seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1) and 1 1/16-mile Norfolk S. (G1). Lookin at Lucky suffered his first loss in a heartbreaker in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), where he was compromised by the 13 post and was just beaten a head. He promptly rebounded in the CashCall Futurity (G1) to conclude the year.After overcoming a world of trouble to win the Rebel S. (G2) in his sophomore debut, Lookin at Lucky ran into even worse trouble that he couldn't overcome in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1). He was taken up sharply in the Santa Anita Derby, but regrouped for third, and was an equine pinball when drawing the rail in the Run for the Roses. Knocked repeatedly in the early going of the 1 1/4-mile classic, Lookin at Lucky managed to put in enough of a run to finish sixth in the 20-horse field. His connections decided to make a rider switch from Garrett Gomez to Garcia for the Preakness (G1), and enjoying a better draw and a clean trip, he posted a comfortable three-quarters of a length decision in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Lookin at Lucky rolled to an authoritative four-length decision in the aforementioned Haskell, but he came down with a fever in the following days and didn't return to the worktab for Baffert until September 8, posting four works in advance of the Indiana Derby. The divisional leader confirmed his status as a top contender for the November 6 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday. Bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farm LLC, Lookin at Lucky RNA'd for $35,000 as a Keeneland September yearling before selling to Pegram for $475,000 as a Keeneland April two-year-old. He is the third registered foal out of the winning Private Feeling (Belong to Me) and counts as an older half-brother last year's Jim Dandy S. (G2) and Dwyer S. (G2) winner Kensei (Mr. Greeley), who ran second in his seasonal bow in the Duncan F. Kenner S. The 11-year-old mare has also produced an unnamed yearling colt by Afleet Alex and a weanling colt by Mr. Greeley. Private Feeling, who is out of the stakes-placed Regal Feeling (Clever Trick), counts as a half-sister Grade 3 queen Grand Charmer (Lord Avie), the granddam of 2006 champion three-year-old filly and multiple Grade 1 queen Wait a While (Maria's Mon), an earner of more than $2.1 million on track. Lookin at Lucky's third dam is Grade 1 winner Sharp Belle (Native Charger), and this is the same family as 1987 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) winner Sir Harry Lewis (Alleged).
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