Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram and Paul Weitman’s Lookin At Lucky rebounded from a disappointing performance in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago to prevail over 11 rivals by three-quarters of a length in the 135th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes
Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
A crowd of 95,760 witnessed rising star Martin Garcia ride his first winner in a Triple Crown race and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert receive the Woodlawn Vase for the fifth time. A total of $79,209,170 was wagered on the 13-race program.
Attendance increased 23 percent over last year, when Rachel Alexandra beat the boys in the 134th Preakness Stakes. Performances by Grammy Award winner Zac Brown Band and Platinum selling musical group O.A.R. in the infield contributed to a festive event under ideal weather conditions.
“It was a great day. People had a tremendous time in the infield,” said Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chuckas. “We adjusted the program from a year ago and will continue to look for ways to build on the momentum we experienced today.”
While joining Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Point Given (2001) and War Emblem (2002) in Baffert’s stable of Preakness winners, Lookin At Lucky ran 1-3/16 miles in 1:55.47. The Preakness record is 1:54.2, held jointly by Curlin (2007), Louis Quatorze (1996) and Tank’s Prospect (1985).
Super Saver, the 9-5 favourite who gave trainer Todd Pletcher his long-awaited Kentucky Derby victory two weeks ago, pressed the early pace before fading to eighth under jockey Calvin Borel.
Following Lookin At Lucky’s trouble-filled sixth-place finish at Churchill Downs as the beaten favourite, Baffert elected to replace regular rider Garrett Gomez with the 25-year-old Garcia. Lookin At Lucky broke cleanly and settled in fifth behind the pacesetting First Dude and jockey Ramon Dominguez. Garcia asked his colt for run on the far turn in pursuit of First Dude, who had clicked off solid quarter-mile fractions of :22.91, :46.47 and 1:11.22.
Under Ramon Dominguez, the Dale Romans-trained First Dude continued on the lead on the turn into the homestretch with Lookin At Lucky looming dangerously with a three-wide move. Lookin At Lucky edged to the lead after straightening into the stretch with First Dude fighting back through the lane until finally yielding at the end. Jackson Bend, who pressed the pace throughout from the inside, finished a game third.
Lookin At Lucky, a son of Smart Strike by the Belong To Me mare Private Feeling, paid $6.80. The 7-11 exacta returned $188.60. The trifecta 7-11-6 paid $2,771.
The win moves Baffert into a second place tie with D. Wayne Lukas and Thomas Healey with five Preakness victories. Robert Wyndham Walden saddled seven winners, including five straight from 1878 to 1882.
(Pimlico Race Course)