Lookin At Lucky came from last in a field of nine 3-year-olds to win the $500,000 Indiana Derby by 11/4 lengths over Thiskyhasnolimit at Hoosier Park on Saturday.
Jockey Martin Garcia guided the Preakness winner to a time of 1:43.4 over the 1 1/16 miles. The victory gave trainer Bob Baffert his second straight Indiana Derby title and set up Lookin At Lucky for the Breeders' Cup Classic, at Churchill Downs in five weeks.
Lookin At Lucky paid $2.80, $2.10, $2.10, Thiskyhasnolimit earned $3.40 and $3.00, and St. Maximus Gato returned $5.80.
Lookin At Lucky, who finished sixth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, tucked in behind leader Indy Bull in the early going on the muddy track, but dropped from fourth to ninth between the front stretch and the quarter pole.
"That wasn't what I was supposed to do," said Garcia, who guided Lookin At Lucky to a Preakness Stakes victory on May 15. "I messed up a little bit."
By the half-mile pole Lookin At Lucky had gained just one position and was still sixth at the three-quarters mark. But at the top of the stretch he had completed his wide trip around the turn and had only Thiskyhasnolimit to pass.
"I thought he'd be a little closer to the front," Baffert said. "Going down the backside I was really worried. The first thing I asked Martin was 'What happened? Did you think you were riding Secretariat,' and he said 'yes.'"
Thiskyhasnolimit, ridden by Jamie Theriot, held the lead from the three-quarter pole through the top of the stretch before giving way to the winner's stretch drive.
"When he came back like that down the stretch, he showed what a great horse he is," Baffert said.
The win points Lookin At Lucky to the Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be held in five weeks at Churchill Downs. It also puts the horse squarely in the middle of discussion for 3-Year-Old of the Year honors.
