Making a Kentucky bet on Bob Baffert trained horses can be done in the 2010 Kentucky Derby as Baffert has two contenders. Lookin at Lucky and Conveyance will not be the favorites but Lookin at Lucky could be the second choice in Kentucky odds behind Eskendereya.
Kentucky bet history indicates that Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby three times. He is always well respected and his horses get a lot of attention. They are already at Churchill Downs as Baffert gets them ready. “I just wanted them to get over the track and see where they stand,” Baffert said. “I just wanted to see how they handled the track here. They are both coming from synthetics (tracks), so I wanted to get them a little extra stroll through there.”
Conveyance was the runner-up in the Sunland Derby and he worked out in 1:00 3/5 for five furlongs. Lookin at Lucky worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5. “A lot can happen between now and then,” Baffert said. “But day one, we’re OK.” The work for Lookin at Lucky was his first since his third-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby. It was also the first workout the horse had by himself. “He was pretty professional,” said Baffert, “The thought was that he needed the blinkers, but we will have plenty of targets (to run at) in there.” Baffert will work Conveyance and Lookin at Lucky twice more before the Derby on Saturday, May 1st.
Those making a Kentucky bet this year should be able to wager on a full field as 20 horses are expected for the race. One horse that is hoping to get into the field is Jackson Bend who finished second to Eskendereya in the Wood Memorial. He is 21st on the graded earnings list so he needs just one horse in the Top 20 to bow out of the Derby. He had a good workout for trainer Nick Zito. “When they say good things come in small packages, I guess they know what they mean,” Zito said, “He always tries and doesn’t give up. He’s not a big horse but he’s just as good as he can be. If he could do that again next week, I would be happy.” If Jackson Bend makes the field in Kentucky Derby odds he would have Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith in the irons.