Holy Lute gets a second chance

ARCADIA, Calif. – When Holy Lute crossed the finish line in first-place in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Jan. 17, a sense of dread overcame trainer Jim Cassidy. Holy Lute had drifted out in the stretch.

“They put the inquiry sign up immediately,” Cassidy said.

After a review, the stewards disqualified Holy Lute from first and placed him second. The decision cost Holy Lute a win, but it allowed him to remain eligible for the same condition race. Thursday, Holy Lute will be favored to win an optional claimer at the same level at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Holy Lute is part of the field of six in the $60,000 event, the second race on an eight-race program. Thursday’s program is the first of five consecutive racing days at Santa Anita. There is racing on Monday for Presidents’ Day.

KEY CONTENDERS

Holy Lute (Last 3 Beyers: 95-87-89)
◗ On Jan. 17, Holy Lute finished first for the first time since winning the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar in August 2013. In between, he raced seven times. During that span, he finished second by a nose in an optional claimer at six furlongs at Del Mar.
◗ Holy Lute underwent throat surgery after finishing fourth in an optional claimer a month later at that track.
“He had a breathing problem,” Cassidy said. “We did the surgery and he’s been doing very good.”
◗ Owned by Class Racing Stable, Holy Lute has won 2 of 11 starts and earned $207,672. He was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and last of 11 in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in the final months of 2013 before being rested.

U S Citizen (Last 3 Beyers: 95-90-85)
◗ U S Citizen was promoted from second to first when Holy Lute was disqualified in Jan. 17. U S Citizen was beaten a head in that race after sustaining a bump from Holy Lute.
◗ For Thursday’s race, U S Citizen is eligible to be claimed for $62,500. He was not entered to be claimed on Jan. 17. A 6-year-old gelding, U S Citizen was claimed for $25,000 last August.

Forever Juanito (Last 3 Beyers: 90-79-91)
◗ Last May, Forever Juanito won the Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds on the hillside turf course, but the 4-year-old gelding has lost his last seven starts.
◗ Trained by Victor Garcia, Forever Juanito was fifth in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside on Jan. 25.