Lookin At Lucky wins Haskell Invitational Handicap
Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra may be the current marquee names of American racing but Lookin At Lucky came through as the dominant three-year-old with a victory in the Grade One Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park.
The race had brought together a quality field that offered the opportunity to settle arguments that this year’s Triple Crown races had only really started.
The first and second from the Kentucky Derby – Super Saver and Ice Box – had both disappointed next time out. Ice Box was frozen out in the Belmont (he was later found to have displaced his palate) and Super Saver had finished down the field in the Preakness when Lookin At Lucky had beaten First Dude.
Lookin At Lucky is perhaps not one of the most aptly-named horses. The colt’s chances in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – where he finished second - had been compromised by being drawn somewhere near the car park in stall 13 and then, in the Derby itself, he got the other extreme when he was allotted stall one from where he hit more traffic problems than a rush hour as he was battered into sixth place behind Super Saver.
Bob Baffert, his trainer, who had won the Haskell three times previously - with Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002) and Roman Ruler (2005) – was wondering just which of the gods he upset when he drew stall one again this time.
The unknown quantity in the race was Kiaran McLaughlin’s Trappe Shot, who came into the race unbeaten in five starts this year. But this was a whole new ball game.
Martin Garcia opted not to try and rush Lookin At Lucky from the gates as First Dude and Our Dark Knight led to the first turn with Super Saver in fourth. Garcia had held off with Lookin At Lucky, electing to switch the colt for a wide run around the first turn and down the back stretch.
He made his move on the run to the second turn as Lookin At Lucky and Super Saver duelled for the lead into the top of the home stretch, where Trappe Shot appeared on the scene. But Garcia had not got close to the reserves he had under the saddle and Lookin At Lucky powered away to put four lengths between himself and Trappe Shot, with First Dude edging out Super Saver for third.
At Saratoga, Malibu Prayer, ridden by John Velazquez, won the Grade One Ruffian Invitational Handicap for Todd Pletcher.
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