SARATOGA SPRINGS – Trainer Bob Baffert won’t decide for a week or more whether Lookin At Lucky, runaway winner of Saturday’s Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, will run in the Aug. 28 Travers Stakes – the “Midsummer Derby” – at Saratoga.

In an exclusive interview with the Post yesterday while he was inspecting horses before tonight’s Saratoga yearling sales, Baffert said he wants to err on the side of caution with his superstar colt, who was the champion 2-year-old of 2009.

“Some of my others horses, like Point Given, were knocked out for the year, and I want to keep this horse around,” Baffert said. “Our major goal is the Breeders’ Cup (Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs). I also want to race him as a 4-year-old.”

After finishing a rough-trip sixth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, Lookin At Lucky rebounded to win the Preakness and Haskell, both Grade 1’s worth $1 million. With those two races under his belt, Lucky is the leading contender for the 3-year-old championship, which would make him the first colt to be a champion at 2 and 3 since Spectacular Bid in 1979. A Travers victory could clinch those honors, but Baffert doesn’t want to push Lucky too hard.

“The Derby really knocked him out for a week,” Baffert said. “He only won the Preakness because he was the best horse.”

Then, after skipping the Belmont Stakes and returning to California, Lookin At Lucky came down with a serious illness that kept him confined to the barn for eight days.

“He was pretty sick,” Baffert said. “I really had to train him hard (after he recovered) to get him ready for the Haskell. Not many horses could have stood up to that.”

Baffert considered shipping Lookin At Lucky to Saratoga after the Haskell. Instead, he’ll fly back to California and train at Del Mar.

“That way I can keep an eye on him,” Baffert said. “The horse will tell me where to run next. I can always change my mind.”