Rebel possible for Lookin At Lucky
Lookin At Lucky, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2009, is on course to make his 2010 debut on March 13, but whether he remains at Santa Anita for that day's Grade 2, $150,000 San Felipe Stakes, or heads to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes has yet to be determined, according to trainer Bob Baffert.
Baffert has gone back and forth on where Lookin At Lucky would resurface this spring. After Lookin At Lucky's victory in December in the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood, which ended his 2-year-old campaign, Baffert strongly considered having the colt race on dirt surfaces, like the one at Oaklawn. But in more recent weeks, he seemed firmly committed to the San Felipe on Pro-Ride.
Last weekend, though, Baffert won the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park with Conveyance. It was an encouraging result despite having the race delayed by five days because of cold weather. Conveyance will not return to Oaklawn for the Rebel, though, so there would be no conflict with Baffert having to run Conveyance against Lookin At Lucky.
Conveyance will get more time between starts, and there is the possibility, Baffert said, that Conveyance could go to Dubai for the Grade 2, $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby on March 27. Conveyance is owned by the Zabeel Racing International of Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al-Maktoum, the oldest son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
If Conveyance remains in the United States, he will be pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 3, or the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 10, Baffert said.
Another Baffert 3-year-old is scheduled to leave California for his next race. Tiz Chrome, who was fourth in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in his first start around two turns, will head to Aqueduct for the Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham Stakes on March 6.
"He came out of the race with a foot bruise, but he's doing better by the day," Baffert said.
At Santa Anita on Saturday, Baffert is scheduled to run The Program in the Grade 3, $150,000 Sham Stakes.