Gimme Da Lute Gets the Cash in Affirmed
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Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Gimme Da Lute assumed command at the top stretch and battle gamely to defeat Prospect Park by a half-length in the $98,000 Affirmed Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds June 7 at Santa Anita Park.
Gimme Da Lute, a California homebred by Midnight Lute out of the Proud Citizen mare Casino Gold, won his second stakes and first graded event in the Affirmed, a 1 1/16-mile main track test. Martin Garcia rode the winner for trainer Bob Baffert.
Om, the longest shot in the four-horse field at 6-1, led for about seven furlongs through fractions of :23.54 for the opening quarter-mile, :46.51 for the half-mile, and 1:10.57 with Gimme Da Lute just behind him along the inside and Prospect Park to his outside. Gimme Da Lute angled off the rail to grab the lead from Om, and then had to fend off Prospect Park, who had a head advantage after one mile in 1:35.04.
Gimme Da Lute, who completed the distance in 1:41.40 on a fast track, paid $9.20 to win and $3.20 to place; show wagering was canceled with the scratch of Cross the Line. Prospect Park returned $2.20 to place, with Om third and Cyrus Alexander fourth.
Gimme Da Lute now has three wins in six starts for earnings of $247,560.