On the morning following Lookin At Lucky's victory in the 135th Preakness Stakes May 15, trainer Bob Baffert said the colt would be given a break and will not contest the Belmont Stakes in three weeks.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had already announced that Super Saver, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on May 1, would not race in the June 5 Belmont after his eighth-place finish in the Preakness. This year's Belmont will be the first since 2006 in which neither the Derby nor Preakness winner will compete.

Baffert, speaking from the stakes barn at Pimlico as Lookin At Lucky was being prepared for the van that would take him to the airport to begin his return to California, explained his decision to skip the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

"It's a tough, long race," he said. "When I ran my other horses for the Triple Crown, I had to give them a break. It's tough on them. I want to keep this horse around