Talent, guts and a great ride got Lookin at Lucky to the winner’s circle in the Preakness today, while favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver ran out of gas at the half to finish eighth.

“He wants to win so badly,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who is now tied for a record five Preakness wins with Wayne Lukas. “And Martin (Garcia) ran a perfect race.”

“I tried to save ground on the first turn and after that (Baffert) told me to do what I needed to do,” said Garcia, who was riding in his first Triple Crown race.

Lookin at Lucky, winner now of four G1 stakes races, was the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby under regular rider Garrett Gomez, who ran into interference and stirred up controversy aboard odds on favorite Lookin at Lucky in the G1 Santa Derby, where he finished third.

“Martin is so young, but we’ve been clicking and he ran a hell of a race,” said Baffert, who has used Garcia’s services in California.

Gomez picked up the mount for Lukas on Dublin, after Baffert named Garcia on Lookin at Lucky. Dublin, who broke from the #12 hole and swerved to the far outside, made up ground to finish fifth.

First Dude, a 20-1 shot under Ramon Dominguez for trainer Dale Romans, gained the lead in the stretch and dueled with scrappy Lookin at Lucky, who is at least one hand shorter, to finish second by 3/4 of a length.

Calvin Borel, who predicted a Triple Crown sweep for his mount Super Saver, after the Kentucky Derby, offered no excuses for Super Saver’s Preakness trip.

“He had a perfect trip,” said Borel. “He just came up a little empty today.”