Lookin At Lee returns in allowance

NEW ORLEANS – Lookin At Lee, the 2017 Kentucky Derby runner-up, makes his 4-year-old debut here Saturday in a second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at one mile and 70 yards.

You’ll look a long time without seeing a horse eligible to a second-level allowance that has earned more than $1 million, but Lookin At Lee hit seven figures thanks to his Derby showing, a third in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, and a fourth in the Preakness Stakes. Lookin At Lee, a son of Lookin At Lucky, finished seventh in the Belmont Stakes and hasn’t started since a 10th-place showing in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.

“He really needed a break, and he got one,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.

Lookin at Lee, 5-2 on the morning line, not only runs at a distance short of his best in race 3 on Saturday, but his trainer is merely using this start as a means to put fitness into a horse that doesn’t work with particular vigor.

“He needs the race,” Asmussen said. “He’s a classy dude and we expect a big year with him, but I thought this spot would save us about four works. I hope I get another race between now and the Oaklawn Handicap, which is our first target, but if he runs fairly sharply, maybe I’ll just train up to that.”