Luck finally went the way of Lookin At Lucky and the Bob Baffert trained colt responded with a convincing victory in the G1 Preakness Stakes (1900m) at Pimlico on Saturday.

Lookin At Lucky (3c Smart Strike – Private Feeling by Belong to Me) was favourite for the first leg of the Triple Crown but endured a torrid run along the rails in the Kentucky Derby a fortnight ago.  He received a clean trip in the second leg under new rider and Martin Garcia to win by three quarters of a length from First Dude (Stephen Got Even) and Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil).  Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) faded in the straight to finish midfield.  

Lookin At Lucky is by Mr Prospector sire Smart Strike who stands for a $75,000 service fee at Lane’s End Farm.  He is the sire of US Horse of the Year Curlin and overall has 70 stakes winners to his credit.

Lookin At Lucky is from a mare by former Widden Stud sire Belong to Me who shuttled to Australia for seven years until 2005.  He has also clicked as the damsire of Papa Clem, a Smart Strike colt who won the G2 San Fernando Stakes earlier this year.

Lookin at Lucky is a younger half-brother to Kensei (Mr. Greeley) who garnered G2 wins in the Jim Dandy and Dwyer Stakes last year.  Their 11 year-old dam has a yearling colt by Afleet Alex and a colt on the ground by Mr. Greeley.

The Preakness winner was passed-in for $35,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling before selling to owner Mike Pegram for $475,000 at the 2009 Keeneland April 2YO Sale.  Bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farm , Lookin at Lucky has a career card that now reads 10: 7-1-1 with over $2.11 million in earnings.

He had never finished out of the money until running in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago.  Breaking his maiden on debut at Hollywood Park last July, he added victories in the G2 Best Pal Stakes, G1 Del Mar Futurity, G1 Norfolk Stakes and G1 CashCall Futurity before a very unlucky second (beaten a head) in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Lookin at Lucky opened the year with a head victory in the G2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, but suffered more trouble in the G1 Santa Anita Derby prior to the Run for the Roses.  

“It was time some luck went our way,” Baffert said.  “We had the good draw and the horse was ready.  I thought he was capable of it all along, but somewhere along the line, you can’t keep using excuses; you have to win.”

Baffert said Lookin at Lucky had come out of the Preakness in good condition but would not compete in the G1 Belmont Stakes on June 5.  Super Saver will also miss the final leg of the Triple Crown.

The G1 Haskell Invitational on August 1 at Monmouth Park is a likely summer target according to Baffert who has now claimed 9 Triple Crown events but none since War Emblem won the 2002 Preakness.