Even-money choice Lookin at Lucky remained unbeaten in three starts and gave trainer Bob Baffert his 9th win in the Del Mar Futurity.
Even-money choice Lookin at Lucky remained unbeaten in three starts and gave trainer Bob Baffert his ninth win in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) (VIDEO) in the past 14 years Sept. 7 at the seaside track.
Baffert capped a huge weekend, winning the last three grade I races of the long weekend of stakes races at Del Mar, including the $300,000 Pat O'Brien with Zensational and the $1-million Pacific Classic with Richard's Kid Sept. 6. He has won five grade I races at the meet.
"It's like the good old days," said Baffert, who won the Futurity seven consecutive years from 1996 to 2002 and last year with Midshipman, who went on capture the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
"This horse was in tight most of the way and he learned a lot today. He's quite a horse. I wasn't worried about drawing the rail. He has the speed to get himself in a good place. He's right there with Midshipman in that sense."
Baffert said the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) on Oct. 4 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita would be next for his star pupil.Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Lookin at Lucky proved quite tractable in the $300,000 Futurity at seven furlongs, as the young colt was forced to overcome his rail draw. Sixth down the backstretch behind a slow pace, the son of Smart Strike moved up going into the turn in close quarters and waited patiently for a seam to develop between rivals mid-stretch. After claiming the lead, he edged away in the final strides to win by one length over the charging Make Music for Me.
"I've always been impressed with him," Gomez told TVG afterward. "He's been like this since day one. Nothing bothers him. He wants to go farther. He makes the lead and his ears go up. He just does what he has to do. He's just been super-impressive."
Gomez said he wasn't happy with the way the race unfolded, but added, "If you sit down inside there long enough, something is going to happen for you. And I waited and waited and then I was able to push my way out and get him loose. He's a good horse and when you have a good horse, he makes you look good."
The winner carried top weight of 122 pounds and paid $4, $3 and $2.40. Make Music for Me, trained by Alexis Barba, returned $4.60 and $4 and was part of a$21.40 exacta. Smiling Tiger, from the barn of Northern California-based Jeff Bonde, was $4.80 to show.
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