Gimme Da Lute Annexes Affirmed

Pegram, Watson and Weitman homebred Gimme Da Lute, who graduated against fellow Cal-breds here Feb. 21, earned his first black-type in the Eddie Echo S. Apr. 4. He was third behind Competitive Edge (Super Saver) stretching out to a mile in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. May 2 and was third in Pimlico’s Chick Lang S. May 16. The bay knocked into Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d’Oro) leaving the stalls, but recovered to sit just to the inside of Om, who assumed leadership of the tightly-bunched field and sped the quarter in :23.54 and a half in :46.51. Still in the wake of that rival turning for home, Gimme Da Lute switched off the rail and rallied up to even terms with Om to his inside and Prospect Park, who had also commenced his rally to his outside. In front by midstretch, the Bob Baffert trainee maintained his narrow advantage all the way to the wire.

“He’s a tough little horse,” said Baffert assistant Mike Marlow. “I think coming back to his home track helped a lot and short fields never hurt either.”

Sunday, Santa Anita Park

AFFIRMED S.-GIII, $98,000, SAX, 6-7, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:41 2/5, ft.

1–@GIMME DA LUTE, 118, c, 3, by Midnight Lute

1st Dam: Casino Gold, by Proud Citizen

2nd Dam: American Affair, by American Chance

3rd Dam: Idle Affair, by Try My Best

O/B-Karl Watson, Michael E Pegram & Paul Weitman

(CA); T-Bob Baffert; J-Martin Garcia. $60,000.

Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-2, $247,560. Click for the

eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C+.

2–Prospect Park, 118, c, 3, Tapit–Quiet Romance, by

Bertrando. O/B-Pam & Martin Wygod (KY); T-Clifford

W Sise Jr. $20,000.

3–Om, 118, c, 3, Munnings–Rare Cat, by Tabasco Cat.

($60,000 yrl ’13 KEESEP; $125,000 2yo ‘14

BESMAR). O-Sareen Family Trust; B-Lavin

Bloodstock, Bernie Sams & William S Farish Jr (KY);

T-Dan L Hendricks. $12,000.

Margins: HF, 2HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.60, 0.60, 6.80.

Also Ran: Cyrus Alexander. Scratched: Cross the Line.

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