By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP Sports Writer
OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) -- Bob Baffert has been psyched all week,
confident his Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky is ready to run
another huge race in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on
Sunday.
Then came the post position draw.
"Bob, he drew No. 1," Monmouth Park track announcer Larry Colmus
told the trainer during a conference call Thursday.
"I think his name jinxed him all his life," a dejected-sounding
Baffert replied. "Thanks for the call ... you guys just ruined
my morning."
It's easy to see why Baffert's confidence might be shaken. The
last time Lookin At Lucky left from the No. 1 post was in the
Kentucky Derby, where he was promptly roughed up by other horses
twice, nearly went down once, but managed to finish sixth.
In the Preakness, the 3-year-old colt drew lucky No. 7, had a
new rider in Martin Garcia replacing Garrett Gomez, and enjoyed
a perfect trip in his three-quarter length victory.
"His biggest problem in races is the draw," Baffert said of his
bay colt who has won twice from the rail and once from the No. 2
post. "He's the most poorly drawn horse I've ever had. Sometimes
he overcomes it and sometimes he doesn't, but he's a really good
horse."
Despite the unfavorable post, Lookin At Lucky is the 5-2
morning-line favorite over Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and
rising star Trappe Shot. Both are 3-1 in what shapes up as one
of the deepest fields in Haskell history.
Rounding out the field of eight 3-year-olds are Derby runner-up
Ice Box (9-2), Preakness runner-up First Dude (6-1), Withers
winner Afleet Again (12-1) and 15-1 long shots Uptowncharlybrown
and Our Dark Knight.
"It's really a blend of all the horses that had been running
great in the classics, plus the new shooters," Super Saver's
trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito sends out Ice Box and Our Dark
Knight.
"This is the toughest Haskell I've seen," he said.
Trappe Shot, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, comes into the 1
1/8-mile Haskell with a four-race winning streak, including the
Long Branch at Monmouth, but is running in his first graded
stake.
"He's the 'now' horse," McLaughlin said, "but he's never run
against Grade 1 horses. We do know he likes the track, and he
should handle the distance."
Super Saver, meanwhile, comes in after a lackluster eighth-place
finish in the Preakness. Pletcher said his colt has been
training extremely well, has put on weight, and looks "in great
form." Super Saver leaves from the No. 6 post and will be ridden
by Calvin Borel.
The winner likely will become the leading contender for
3-year-old male champion, with the Travers at Saratoga Race
Course on Aug. 28 the next big race on the calendar.
Baffert is bidding to become the first trainer to win the
Haskell four times. He's currently tied with Jimmy Croll and
Sonny Hine. Baffert has won with Point Given (2001), War Emblem
(2002) and Roman Ruler (2005).
"I've always had a lot of success there and I like going back to
where we've had a lot of success," Baffert said.
This will be the first Haskell to feature the Derby winner
against the Preakness winner. Last year, Preakness winner Rachel
Alexandra beat Belmont winner Summer Bird. In 2008, Derby and
Preakness winner Big Brown took the Haskell.