In the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last Nov. 7, Lookin At Lucky was unlucky. Breaking from the outside post in a field of 13, he was farther back early than usual. He also raced wide throughout and rallied into a slow pace. Despite all the adversity, he finished second, only a head behind Vale of York. 

 In last Saturday’s Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Lookin At Lucky again was unlucky. The Smart Strike colt clipped heels and stumbled on the backstretch. He could have thrown in the towel right then and there. But Lookin At Lucky recovered from that incident and rallied resolutely in the stretch to prevail by a head over Noble’s Promise.   Lookin At Lucky, voted an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male of 2009, now has won six of seven career starts. He has been No. 1 on my Kentucky Derby list each week so far this year. Here is my current Top 20 list:  

1. Lookin At Lucky

2. Eskendereya

3. Noble’s Promise

4. Conveyance

5. Sydney’s Candy

6. Awesome Act

7. Rule

8. Interactif

9. Caracortado

10. Dublin

11 Alphie’s Bet

12. Odysseus

13. Jackson Bend

14. Super Saver

15. Connemara

16. Make Music for Me

17. Discreetly Mine

18. Dave in Dixie

19. American Lion

20. Drosselmyer

No. 7 Rule is the 5-2 favorite in this Saturday’s Grade I Florida Derby, which can be seen right here on HRTV. The 1 1/8-mile event has attracted a field of 11. Radiohead is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, but his post position (No. 11) is a concern. Lentenor, 6-1, is a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. This will be Lentenor’s first start on dirt.