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Contrary to his name, Lookin at Lucky has had the ill fate to suffer nothing but horrible trips dating back to his Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up finish last November. In the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, he had the bad luck to draw the rail (from which no horse has won since Ferdinand in 1986), was beaten around and shuffled back on the first trip past the stands at Churchill, and yet somehow managed to be full of run in the homestretch to finish sixth.
The misfortune eventually resulted in Lucky's trainer, Bob Baffert, deciding on a rider change, just to shake things up. Garrett Gomez is off to ride Dublin for D. Wayne Lukas, replaced by Martin Garcia. And maybe "Go Go" took that bad mojo with him -- Lukas' Dublin drew the far outside Post 12 for the Preakness. Lookin at Lucky and Garcia will break from the seven-hole, right next to their biggest adversary, Kentucky Derby winners Super Saver and Calvin Borel.
Whatever happens, it looks like I'll have a very good view. More about that post-race.
He may need more than luck this time around. Typical of the Baffert/Lukas mold, his entry has more to do with trainer ego than smart management. If you have a good view of him prior to the race, note that he lost considerable weight from his exertions in the Derby, would benefit greatly from more time, and is unlikely to reproduce his best.
ReplyDeleteA sharp handicapper and horse owner this week told me he thought Lucky was more likely to finish last in the Preakness than first, and might even "pull a Pioneerof The Nile" and follow up that last-place finish with a retirement.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope not. :-)