Nenufar Azul 16th Grade I winner For Lucky
Nenufar Azul (3c Lookin at Lucky x Nadie Como Ella, by Rock of Gibraltar) became Lookin at Lucky’s 16th worldwide Grade I winner on Sunday with a victory in the Group I Clasico El Derby at Valparaiso in Chile.
A homebred for Don Alberto, Nenufar Azul raced near the back of the field in the 1 ½ mile turf race as Gamberetti, another Lookin At Lucky son, raced just behind the leader a few lengths in front of the field.
Nenufar Azul worked his way closer to the front down the backstretch to enter the turn just a few lengths off the leader and in the perfect place to pounce down the stretch as the leader began to fade. It was a three horse race to the finish with two Lookin At Lucky sons involved in the final furlong.
Nenufar Azul and Gamberetti crossed the line in first and second with Gamberetti just getting his nose in front but bumping in the stretch saw that one dropped to third and Nenufar Azul promoted to first to give Lookin At Lucky the first and third place finishers.
The victory was the sixth top three finish in nine starts for Nenufar Azul, who is trained by Juan Cavieres.
The 3-year-old is the first foal out of Rock Of Gibraltar’s winning daughter Nadie Como Ella, a granddaughter of the dual Grade I winner Noches De Rosa. The family also includes Group I winners Barzio and Matto Mondo and Group II winner Nombar among others.
Worldwide, value sire Lookin At Lucky is the sire of 65 stakes winners with 41 graded stakes winners and 121 stakes performers. That group includes Grade I Kentucky Derby winner Country House and five-time Grade I winner Accelerate among others.