Steve Rivera Ventures

What do you do when you have the best 2-year-old thoroughbred in the world? Take him to the Breeder’s Cup and cross your fingers.

That’s what local car dealers and horse owners Karl Watson (Watson Chevrolet) and Paul Weitman (Royal Buick) have done with Lookin at Lucky, the sensational juvenile who is the morning-line favorite (8-5) for Saturday’s $2 million Juvenile Stakes set for Santa Anita Race Track. Mike Pegram is also a co-owner.

Lookin at Lucky has gone 4-0 in his short career, recently winning the Del Mar Classic and the $300,000 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita, the home of this weekend’s Breeder’s Cup.

“Everything looks good but you still have to run the race,’’ said Watson. “Bobby (Baffert) likes the way he’s training and he’s handled himself well, but you can’t count your chicks before they hatch.’’

Baffert, a University of Arizona graduate and a recent inductee into horse racing’s Hall of Fame, has said Lookin at Lucky is his best 2-year-old in the last five years. Baffert has also called Lookin at Lucky “a franchise horse’’ much like Midnight Lute was. Midnight Lute, named after former UA Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, was also owned by Weitman and Watson. Midnight Lute gave the duo two of the owner’s biggest wins after winning the Breeder’s Cup Sprint the last two years.

“This is pretty special to be doing this three years in a row and have a live shot (at another win),’’ Watson said. “It’s something everyone wants to do. If we’re lucky we’ll get it done.’’

Steve Rivera can be reached at steve.rivera95@gmail.com.