Del Mar: Holy Lute turns it around in Green Flash

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Frustrations in July turned to glory in August when Holy Lute closed from off the pace to win Wednesday’s $87,080 Green Flash Handicap for turf sprinters at Del Mar.

Holy Lute finished eighth in an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf on July 22, racing in traffic and losing by two lengths despite not getting a clear run. He had a much friendlier trip in the Green Flash.

Ridden by Santiago Gonzalez, Holy Lute ($12.60) closed from third in a field of seven to catch 4-5 favorite Distinctiv Passion in the final sixteenth and win by a length. Holy Lute ran five furlongs on turf in 56.24 seconds.

“He should have won last time,” trainer Jim Cassidy said. “He never got a chance to run. It opened up this time and that’s the luck of it.”

Distinctiv Passion held second, finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of 21-1 Bobby Z Man, who was followed by Ankeny Hill, Boat Trip, Forest Chatter, and Heir of Storm.

Inkling, an import from Australia, was scratched after becoming loose in the post parade and running loose on the track for several minutes.

Holy Lute, a 5-year-old horse by Midnight Lute, has won 4 of 18 starts and earned $330,142 for Class Racing Stable. The Green Flash Handicap was his second stakes win, preceded by the 2012 El Cajon Stakes here.

Holy Lute underwent throat surgery to aid a breathing problem in early 2014 and has since then has won two of 12 starts.