Oaklawn Park: Big Lute shortens up for 2014 debut Friday

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Big Lute spent some time on the Arkansas Derby trail last year after a memorable debut win at Oaklawn Park. But when he starts his 4-year-old season in a first-level allowance Friday, it will be with a brand-new agenda.

“He’s looking like he wants to be a sprinter,” trainer Steve Hobby said.

Big Lute is part of a 12-horse field for the six-furlong allowance. Others set to start include Hang Cool, who won his maiden in a first-level allowance at Remington Park in his lone career start Oct. 30; and Titletown Five, who races for a partnership led by Green Bay Packers greats Paul Hornung and Willie Davis.

Big Lute began his career in a maiden special weight sprint last February and dazzled when he won the six-furlong race by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:10.43. The score earned him a shot at the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, and after pressing the pace, he ended up seventh. Following the race, he was sidelined with a non-displaced bone chip.

“He had a chip in a knee,” Hobby said. “It just had happened, and we took it right out.”

Big Lute returned to action last September at Churchill Downs and was second in a first-level allowance under regular rider Robby Albarado. He has raced once more since, finishing third in a similar race at Keeneland on Oct. 25.

“Both races were seven furlongs, and he got a little tired both times,” Hobby said. “Of course, one of them was off a long layoff. I thought that was a pretty good race, really.”

In the Keeneland race, Big Lute was favored, and after racing farther back than usual in the early stages, he finished 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

“I really don’t think he liked the Polytrack,” Hobby said. “He just didn’t seem the same. He ran third, but he just never looked as comfortable. He always took Robby to the front. He had to ask him to go there. It was just different.”

Big Lute, who races for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, will break from post 10 under Jesus Castanon.

“I think he’ll press the pace just ‘cause he’s naturally fast,” Hobby said.

In the seventh race, stakes winner Heykittykittykitty will add blinkers for an optional $25,000 claimer for 3-year-old fillies to be run over six furlongs. She enters off a runner-up finish in a first-level allowance Jan. 24.

“The last sixteenth of a mile, she spent the entire time looking at the horse to her right,” trainer Ron Moquett said, “and after the race, she gallops out to the point she has to have the outrider catch her. So, I’m thinking that she didn’t use her energy toward the last sixteenth of a mile running.”

As a result, Moquett decided to add blinkers for Friday.