LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), who solidified his status as division leader
with convincing victories in the Preakness S. (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1),
will make an appearance at Hoosier Park on Saturday when he lines up for the
$500,000
Indiana Derby (G2). The 1 1/16-mile event will serve as the colt’s final
tune-up for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and Lookin at Lucky
should be an overwhelming favorite among nine rivals.
A three-time Grade 1 winner in 2009, Lookin at Lucky was named champion
two-year-old and entered his three-year-old season as the early Kentucky Derby
(G1) favorite. Following a victory in the Rebel S. (G2) and a troubled third in
the Santa Anita Derby (G1), the Bob Baffert trainee was favored at Churchill
Downs on the first Saturday in May, but he effectively lost all chance in the
opening furlongs after being shuffled back from his rail post. The bay
Kentucky-bred rebounded at Pimlico, comfortably scoring by three parts of a
length in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, and asserted his divisional
dominance with a smashing four-length tally in the August 1 Haskell at Monmouth
Park.
Lookin at Lucky may not have wound up at Hoosier Park if he hadn’t gotten
sick after the Haskell, so his fitness level is at least a minor concern on
Saturday. He does appear to be training forwardly since returning to the worktab
on September 8, with four drills in advance of the Indiana Derby, including a
six-furlong bullet in 1:11 1/5 at Hollywood Park on September 20, and he’ll be
taking a significant class drop at the Anderson, Indiana, oval. Martin Garcia will retain the mount.
THISKYHASNOLIMIT (Sky Mesa) rates as the biggest threat to the favorite.
Winner of the Iroquois S. (G3) at two, the Steve Asmussen-trained colt opened
his three-year-old campaign with a victory in the May 15 Matt Winn S. at
Churchill Downs. He proceeded to finish a well-beaten second to Concord Point
(Tapit) in the Iowa Derby (G3) and fifth to the same rival in the West Virginia
Derby (G2), but returned to the winner’s circle in the September 6 Smarty Jones
S. last out, registering a career-best 100 BRIS Speed rating for the two-length
decision at Philadelphia Park. Jamie Theriot rides the improving dark bay.
WORLDLY (A.P. Indy) is only a maiden winner, but the Paul McGee pupil gets
part often, finishing second in his last three starts. He was a neck back in the
Northern Dancer S. (G3) two starts ago and missed by only a nose in the Ohio
Derby (G3) most recently. Francisco Torres has the assignment. LITIGATION RISK
(Closing Argument) and ST. MAXIMUS GATO (Tactical Cat) will both step up in
class following impressive allowance wins, and the Indiana Derby marks the U.S.
debut for multiple Group 1 winner UAREOUTLAW (Brz) (Christine’s Outlaw), who has
competed exclusively in juvenile events in Brazil due to his Southern Hemisphere
breeding.
NACHO FRIEND (Friends Lake), DABOSSMAN (Drewman) and INDY BULL (Bull Market)
round out the field.
One race prior to the Indiana Derby, seven sophomore fillies will square off
in the $200,000
Indiana Oaks (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, and Baffert will be well-represented with
ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]). A debut maiden winner at Del Mar last
year, Always a Princess recorded a runner-up finish when making her second career start
in the Oak Leaf S. (G1) and threatened to steal the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies (G1) on the front end before weakening slightly to finish fifth, beaten
1 3/4 lengths. The chestnut returned from a 10-month layoff with a sharp
two-length tally in an allowance/optional-claiming event on September 8, and
she’ll look to keep her momentum rolling with Garcia.
SEEKING THE TITLE (Seeking the Gold) and HARISSA (Afleet Alex), the top two
respective finishers in the Iowa Oaks (G3), are logical contenders, and ASH ZEE
(Exchange Rate) is an intriguing candidate for Asmussen following her 6
3/4-length allowance/optional-claiming score at Saratoga that netted her a 104
BRIS Speed rating.
The $100,000
Michael G. Schaefer Mile S. is also on tap Saturday night, and multiple
Grade 3 winner DEMARCATION (Gulch) is the top draw in the 10-horse field. A
respectable fifth in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) two back, the McGee-trained
gelding exits a 1 1/4-length score in the West Virginia Governor’s S.