Looking at Lucky rewarded bettors at the sportsbook as he won Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.Trainer Bob Baffert rolled the dice and pulled leading jockey Garrett Gomez off the horse in favor of 25-year old Martin Garcia. It worked perfectly as Lookin at Lucky finally rewarded those who bet on him at the online sportsbook.
Sportsbook odds listed Lookin at Lucky nearly even in Preakness odds with Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. The jockey change definitely helped Lookin at Lucky as he stayed out of trouble. “Our luck had to change somehow the way the trips have been,” Baffert said. Lookin at Lucky was victorious by almost a length over First Dude while Jackson Bend took third. Super Saver was a distant eighth. “When I asked him, he kind of just folded up. It happens,” said Super Saver jockey Calvin Borel. Lookin at Lucky paid $6.80 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.80 to show. First Dude paid $16.60 to place and $9.20 to show while Jackson Bend paid $6.60 to show. Super Saver was just barely the sportsbook favorite at post time at 9-5 while Lookin at Lucky went off at 2-1. Yawanna Twist finished fourth and was followed by Dublin, Paddy O’Prado, Caracortado, Super Saver, Schoolyard Dreams, Aikenite, Pleasant Prince and Northern Giant.
The win for Baffert in the Preakness was his fifth all-time which ties him for second with D. Wayne Lukas. The win by jockey Martin Garcia was huge as his first Triple Crown race was just two weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby. “He came out here today and he was so cool and calm,” Baffert said. “He rode a perfect race. Martin can get a horse to settle really well, and I could see he had the horse in a nice rhythm.” Garcia gave Lookin at Lucky a great ride while Garrett Gomez had trouble again, this time aboard Dublin.
Since Super Saver won the Derby in sportsbook odds and Lookin at Lucky won the Preakness, there will be no Triple Crown winner again this year. The last horse to accomplish the feat was Affirmed in 1978.
Sportsbook odds will be posted on the Belmont Stakes soon but neither Lookin at Lucky nor Super Saver will be on the board. It will be the first time since 2006 that the Belmont will not include either the Derby winner or the Preakness winner in online sportsbook odds.