Midnight Lucky Out of F&M Sprint, Retired

Dual grade I winner Midnight Lucky has been withdrawn from consideration for the DraftKings Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) following a six-furlong workout Oct. 24 and will be retired, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed from Santa Anita Park.



"She worked, and it wasn't a bad work, but I was looking for more," Baffert said shortly after Midnight Lucky was officially timed in 1:11 4/5 with Martin Garcia aboard. "Going into a race like this, I just didn't feel like it was her typical work. It's too bad, because she'd been so brilliant in her two works before this."



The 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute   had not been out since a 4 1/2-length romp in her first try against older fillies and mares in the Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 3, which was her only start this year. She won the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) in her final start at 3, but that was more than 11 months prior to the Humana Distaff.



Her work Friday was the quickest of 19 on the Santa Anita worktab, which followed a bullet move at six furlongs a week earlier in 1:12 flat.



Baffert said he felt "pressed for time" in order to get Midnight Lucky ready for the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs, and really needed a couple of more weeks to have her fully prepared.



"She's such a good filly and she gives it everything she's got," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "But I just knew she wasn't ready for this."



Owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman, Midnight Lucky retires with four wins in five starts and earnings of $565,022.

Pegram said he was disappointed that he would not get to see Midnight Lucky run in the Breeders' Cup. He noted that the filly never has had any serious physical problems "but just a little bit of this and a little bit of that."

He added, "It seems like it's always that way with the really fast ones."

Pegram said that Midnight Lucky would not be sold and would instead go to Hill 'N' Dale Farm in Kentucky, where he keeps his mares. A decision will be forthcoming on which stallion she is to be bred to, Pegram said.

Midnight Lucky's dam, Citiview, is a full sister to Pegram's grade I winner Hookedonthefeelin, who produced his three-time grade I winner Pussycat Doll.

"I just hope she can duplicate that speed in one of her babies," he sadi.