Indiana Derby next for Lookin At Lucky

Lookin At Lucky will probably make his next start in the $500,000 Indiana Derby on Oct. 2 at Hoosier Park, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday afternoon.

“As long as everything goes smooth between now and then, that’s where I’m pointing him,” said Baffert, who trains Lookin At Lucky for owners Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman.

Sixth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, Lookin At Lucky regained a position atop the national 3-year-old division with victories in the Preakness Stakes and the Haskell Invitational, which he won by four lengths on Aug. 1. Baffert reported that Lookin At Lucky contracted an illness immediately after the Haskell, and Lookin At Lucky didn’t post a timed workout until Sept. 8, when he went a half-mile at Del Mar.

Lookin At Lucky was back on the Hollywood Park work tab Tuesday, when he was timed in 48.40 seconds for a half-mile (Baffert said Friday the drill was actually an easy six furlongs), and Baffert said Lookin At Lucky will work again at Hollywood this week.

“Right now everything looks good,” Baffert said. “He worked nice the other day.”

Lookin At Lucky will ship to Hoosier Park, located just outside Indianapolis, two days before his race, said Baffert, who won the 2009 Indiana Derby with Misremembered. The Indiana Derby is contested at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Lookin At Lucky will be the highest-profile horse to start in the race since Perfect Drift, who won in 2002.

The choice of the race at Hoosier would give Baffert five weeks to prepare Lookin At Lucky for the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Classic if his connections elect to aim for that spot.