BALTIMORE – Bob Baffert switched jockeys to change Lookin At Lucky’s luck, and it was a brilliant move.
Martin Garcia, a 25-year-old Mexican, rallied Lookin At Lucky wide on the far turn and the colt battled gamely through the stretch as he won the 135th Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico. Coming in second, three-quarters of a length behind, was First Dude, who held well after setting the pace. Jackson Bend ran third, a head farther back.
For the 32nd consecutive year, there will be no Triple Crown winner. Kentucky Derby hero Super Saver chased First Dude for a mile but backed up to finish eighth, 11½ lengths behind, under Calvin Borel.
“It means a lot to me,” said Garcia, a former restaurant worker competing in his first Preakness. “I want to thank Bob and the horse’s connections for letting me ride the horse. The main thing Bob told me was to save ground through the first turn, then just do what you want.”
Lookin At Lucky, last year’s 2-year-old champion, had brutal trips in his last two races for jockey Garrett Gomez. The son of Smart Strike was third in the Santa Anita Derby before coming in sixth in the Kentucky Derby, where he was slammed twice in the first quarter-mile.
The winner paid $6.80 after running 1 3/16 miles in 1 minute, 55.47 seconds on a fast track. He gave Baffert his fifth Preakness victory and his first since War Emblem in 2002.
“I’m so proud of Martin,” Baffert said. “He was so cool and calm and he rode a great race.
“In the stretch, I just thought please, don’t let anybody run me down. We’ve had so much (bad luck) with this horse. He’s a warrior and he fights so hard.”