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Lookin at Lucky makes it four in a row
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Steve Andersen, Daily Racing Form   10/04/2009

Jump to Race Entries/Results ARCADIA, Calif.- Get used to it, folks.

Lookin at Lucky continues to win important races, and doesn't mind throwing in a touch of drama in the stretch.

Sunday at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meet, Lookin at Lucky extended his unbeaten streak to four with a vital win in the $299,000 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds, the colt's first start at 1 1/16 miles. The Grade 1 Norfolk was part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In program for the BC Juvenile here on Nov. 7, a race in which Lookin at Lucky is expected to be favored.

Lookin at Lucky ($3.60) took the lead in early stretch of the Norfolk and won by 1 3/4 lengths over Pulsion in 1:43.19. The margin could have easily been several lengths, if Lookin at Lucky had not idled a bit through the stretch, according to jockey Garrett Gomez.

"I was more worried about the competition than he was," Gomez said. "He did enough to keep them away."

Trainer Bob Baffert said that Lookin at Lucky has developed the habit of making races closer than necessary. "He's not going to let a horse pass him," Baffert said. "If he was a speed horse, I'd worry about it."

Gomez had Lookin at Lucky in fourth for the first six furlongs, moving off the inside to take a stalking position while racing two-wide on the backstretch. Sterling Outlook set an early pace of 23.23 and 47.54 seconds, but could not sustain the effort, fading on the turn.

Gomez moved Lookin at Lucky closer to the leaders on the turn and got a quick response reaching the front before the eighth pole.

Pulsion, an 18-1 shot who was making his stakes debut, closed from eighth to finish a half-length in front of 39-1 Gallant Gent. Jung Man Scott and John Scott finished in a dead heat for fourth in the field of 11.

The first three finishers are expected to start in the BC Juvenile.

Lookin at Lucky, by Smart Strike, races for Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman. At Del Mar, he won two sprint stakes -- the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs and the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity over seven furlongs. He has earned $483,000.


RACE RESULTS
OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA, Sunday October 04, 2009 - Race 8
Norfolk S. - Grade: 1
Purse: $300,000 | Distance/Restrictions: 1 1/16M, Dirt, 2 Year Olds, STAKES | Winning Time: 1:43.11
PgmHorseJockeyWinPlaceShow
2Lookin At LuckyGarrett K. Gomez3.602.602.40
12PulsionMike E. Smith6.804.00
5Gallant GentMartin A. Pedroza8.40

Times in 100ths::23.23 :47.54 1:11.56 1:36.65 1:43.11

Unplaced horses listed in order of finish.
Also ran:John Scott, Jung Man Scott, Dave in Dixie, Alfarabi, Came Aboard, Seattle Ruler, Lucky Rave and Sterling Outlook

Scratched: Hurricane Ike

Winning Breeder:Gulf Coast Farms LLC
Winning Trainer:Gulf Coast Farms LLC
Winning Owner:Watson, Karl, Pegram, Michael E. and Weitman, Paul

Wager TypeWinning NumbersPayoff
$2 Daily Double10-2$15.40
$1 Exacta2-12$22.40
$1 Superfecta2-12-5-9$1,220.10
$1 Trifecta2-12-5$295.60
$1 Pick 35-10-2$46.90

Race Comments: LOOKIN AT LUCKY stalked inside then came out leaving the first turn, continued outside a rival on the backstretch, came three deep into the stretch, gained the lead, inched away, drifted inward in deep stretch and proved best under left handed urging. PULSION chased outside, angled in on the backstretch, came out into the stretch, split horses in midstretch and gained the place between foes on the line. GALLANT GENT stalked the pace off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter on the second turn, took a short lead leaving that turn, fought back inside the winner past midstretch and held third. JUNG MAN SCOTT bobbled a bit at the start, chased outside, was in a bit tight off heels three deep into the stretch and split rivals late to share fourth. JOHN SCOTT angled in and settled outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and five wide into the stretch and finished with interest. DAVE IN DIXIE unhurried and angled in early, saved ground off the pace, came out a bit in the stretch and also finished well between foes late. ALFARABI close up stalking the pace off the rail, came out into the stretch and weakened. CAME ABOARD chased between horses then outside a rival, split horses on the backstretch, dropped back on the second turn, came out some in the stretch and lacked the needed response. SEATTLE RULER angled in and settled a bit off the rail, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and did not rally. LUCKY RAVE (GB) pulled his way along to stalk the pace inside, remained along the rail on the second turn and weakened. STERLING OUTLOOK bobbled at the start, sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back on the second turn but weakened in the stretch.

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