Horse Racing News and Results: CashCall Futurity

by Patricia Woo | Dec 21 2009

The calendar might still say 2009, but Lookin at Lucky cemented his status as a top contender for the 2010 Kentucky Derby in April with his resounding win in the $750,000 Gr. 1 CashCall Futurity on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Hollywood Park. Taking on six other 2-year-old rivals, including Noble's Promise and Seattle Ruler, Lookin at Lucky showed his emerging maturity during the race to win by three-quarters of a length.

With stablemate The Program setting the pace, and Brady Blue Eyes along with Noble's Promise in pursuit, Lookin at Lucky was battling jockey Garrett Gomez as they traveled along the rail. He finally relaxed and managed to gain ground along the inside of The Program, while Noble's Promise went wide into the turn. Heading for home, it was Lookin at Lucky making headway along the rail and then pulling clear of Noble's Promise, who finished second. Make Music for Me and jockey Mike Smith made a tremendous rally from last going into the final turn to third. The Program and Baffert's third entry Marcello followed, with Brady Blue Eyes and Seattle Ruler rounding out the field. Lookin at Lucky's winning trip around the 1 1/16-mile course was 1:43.30.

"I've always known he was versatile and [we] could do whatever we want with him," said Gomez, Lookin at Lucky's regular rider, after the race. "He's full of talent, and I'm getting even more excited about him."

Baffert agreed, saying: "That's probably [Lookin at Lucky's] best race."

Lookin at Lucky now has $1,243,000 in earnings on the year and a near-perfect 5-4-1-0 record. His only blemish in 2009 was his unlucky runner-up finish in the $2M Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November. With an Eclipse Award for outstanding 2-year-old all but his, and with his sights firmly set on the Kentucky Derby next year, this Smart Strike colt is poised for an incredible 2010.

Noble's Promise, who was ridden by Rafael Bejarano, is trained by Kenneth McPeek and is another strong contender for the Kentucky Derby in 2010. This Cuvee colt finished behind Lookin at Lucky in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after winning three straight, including the $500,000 Gr. 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October. He has a tremendous finishing kick, and would have benefited with a less effortful trip.

Make Music for Me is trained by Alexis Barbra, who will be pleased at the rally that his charge showed. Smith, too, was full of praise for his mount, saying, “I loved the way he galloped out. There's certainly more to him.” This Bernstein colt is still looking for his first win but has been stymied by both Lookin at Lucky and Noble's Promise in the past.

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