Lookin at Lucky leads Baffert trio in CashCall Futurity

Lookin at Lucky, seen here following the Norfolk, will return to the site of his maiden win (Benoit Photos)

Dual Grade 1 hero LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), an unlucky head second in
the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last out, will try to solidify his credentials
as the best two-year-old in the country with a victory in Saturday’s 29th
running of the $750,000

CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park.

The bay colt suffered his lone defeat in five starts when he drew post 13 in
the Juvenile and was forced to run wide while falling just a head short of Vale
of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit). Prior to that, he won four straight races
including the Best Pal S. (G2), Del Mar Futurity (G1) and the Norfolk S. (G1).

Noble’s Promise will try the Cushion Track for the first time in the Futurity (EquiSport Photos)

Baffert, whose other Futurity win came with Captain Steve in 1999, will also
send out Generous S. (G3) runner-up MARCELLO (Johannesburg) and THE PROGRAM
(Harlan’s Holiday) in the 1 1/16-mile event on Saturday. Baffert moves Marcello
back to the main track after the bay finished second in the grassy one-mile
Generous. He will be making his sixth start, while The Program will be starting
for the fifth time. The Program enters following a second in a 1 1/16-mile
allowance race over the Cushion Track on November 27.

Breeders’ Futurity (G1) hero NOBLE’S PROMISE (Cuvee) led in deep stretch in
the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile before settling for third, beaten less than one
length, and will be looking for some luck of his own this time around. The Ken
McPeek has won three of five starts, including the Breeders’ Futurity at
Keeneland prior to the Breeders’ Cup. Robby Albarado picks up the mount from
Willie Martinez.

SEATTLE RULER (Roman Ruler), victor of the Barretts Juvenile S. at Fairplex
Park, could do no better than ninth in the Norfolk, leading trainer Mike
Harrington to opt out of sending his charge to the Breeders’ Cup. Instead, the
chestnut colt reappeared in the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3), where he ran third,
and will keep Martin Garcia aboard for this ride.