Breaking Lucky settles in at Saratoga ahead of Whitney

Breaking Lucky has settled in well at Saratoga ahead of Saturday's 90th running of the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney, trainer Reade Baker said by phone Thursday morning.

Owned by Gunpowder Farms and West Point Thoroughbreds, Breaking Lucky shipped from Woodbine and is staying at Jimmy Bond's stable. The 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky drew post 2 and is 8-1 on the morning line for the "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Breaking Lucky, who finished third last out in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap on June 17 at Churchill Downs, last worked on July 25 at Woodbine's dirt training track in Rexdale, Ontario, going five furlongs in 59.40 seconds.

"He's coming into the race great," Baker said. "He worked in 59 and change the other day at Woodbine and shipped down there and they called me this morning and said everything was good. It's the same procedure as usual."

Baker said everything is on point for the Whitney, but weather conditions could change his plans. Breaking Lucky is cross-entered in the $100,000 Alydar on Sunday. Both races are at 1 1/8 miles.

"We won't run if it's muddy," he said. "We could look at the Alydar but if it's muddy for both days, we're going home."

Should the conditions prove favorable, Breaking Lucky will rematch Whitney 4-5 favorite Gun Runner, who bested the field in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster in his last start. Breaking Lucky will also be returning to the Saratoga Race Course for the first time since finishing fourth in last year's Grade 1 Woodward, notching a 105 Beyer Speed Figure that was the second-highest of his career.

"The distance is fine; it's no problem for him," Baker said. "He's got a jockey [Luis Contreras] that's riding in the best form of his life right now, so everything is positive. Let's just hope the rain stays away."

Breaking Lucky, who is 3-5-4 from 20 career starts, has finished on the board four times with Contreras in the irons, including a victory in the 2016 Grade 3 Seagram Cup at Woodbine.

"He likes the track. He doesn't like Gun Runner very much," Reade said with a laugh. "I don't think about the [trip]. That'll be the jock's business. He doesn't train him and I don't ride him."

Source: NYRA Communications