Gimme Da Lute wins first graded stakes in Affirmed

ARCADIA, Calif. – Even Bob Baffert’s second-string 3-year-olds are winning stakes this weekend.

A day after the stable’s American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 with a win in the Belmont Stakes, the Baffert-trained Gimme Da Lute won his first graded stakes in Sunday’s $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Gimme Da Lute ($9.20) fought off a stretch-long challenge from the 3-5 favorite Prospect Park to win by a half-length. The Grade 3 Affirmed was Gimme Da Lute’s first start around two turns. He ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.40.

“He looked like he handled the two turns,” Baffert said from New York. “I’m happy with that. He looked like he had a little more left.”

Gimme Da Lute won the $200,250 Echo Eddie Stakes for California-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs April 4 at Santa Anita in his stakes debut before finishing third in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile around one-turn May 2 at Churchill Downsand third in the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes at six furlongs May 16 at Pimlico.

Gimme Da Lute broke from the inside in a field of four in the Affirmed. He was near the front early, stalking Om who led by a half-length on the first turn, an advantage that was extended to a length on the backstretch. Garcia guided Gimme Da Lute into contention with a two-wide move on the turn and was quickly challenged by Prospect Park to the outside.

Prospect Park led by a head with a furlong remaining but could not hold off the challenge of Gimme Da Lute. Prospect Park held second, finishing 2 1/2 lengths in front of Om. Cyrus Alexander was fourth. Cross the Line, the winner of the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in January, was scratched Sunday morning.

The Affirmed was the first start for Prospect Park since a fourth behind the Baffert-trained Dortmund in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The loss in the Affirmed surprised trainer Clifford Sise.

“He kind of had to ride him,” Sise said of jockey Kent Desormeaux. “Maybe I didn’t have him fit enough. I don’t know. It’s hard to beat Baffert, no matter where you’re at.”

Gimme Da Lute, by Midnight Lute, has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $247,560 for owner and breeders Mike Pegram, Karl Watsom, and Paul Weitman. The $350,000 Los Alamitos Derby at Los Alamitos on July 4 could be Gimme Da Lute’s next start, Baffert said.