Lookin At Lucky Shines in Del Mar Work
Champion 2-year-old and Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky brought some light to an otherwise gloomy morning -- weather-wise -- with a 1:13.60 6-furlong workout over the main track as Del Mar got ready for opening-day action on its 71st racing season.
Trainer Bob Baffert was something less than ecstatic over the track conditions for the work, but said, "He went well, but the track was a little dead. It was pretty deep coming down the stretch." Even so, the move keeps the 3-year-old son of Smart Strike on track to run next in the Grade I, $1-million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, August 1.
The condition of the main track was not a concern of
Lookin At Lucky's regular rider Martin Garcia or exercise rider Joe Steiner as
they traveled over the three-quarter-mile distance, with Garcia starting on the
outside and about six lengths behind Steiner's mount, El Martillo. The pair
took off at the 5-furlong pole and ran to the 7-furlong spot for the final
time.
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Garcia oozed confidence as he talked about his colt's performance. "He's an amazing horse. I didn't ask him for anything special anytime. He just gave it to me. You never have to make an excuse for him. He's that good."
Steiner supported that as he chimed in with, "He was just toying with me. And I'm on a nice horse." Lookin At Lucky closed the gap easily on this workmate and went past as the pair came down the lane and finished about three lengths to the good. El Martillo got a time of 1:15 from the Del Mar clockers.