Runaway Lute will return to statebred company for Sleepy Hollow

Runaway Lute, who won his first two starts against New York-breds before finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Hopeful, will return to statebred company for the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes on Oct. 22, trainer Gary Contessa said.

Runaway Lute won a maiden race and then the Rockville Centre Stakes by a combined 20 3/4 lengths during the Belmont spring/summer meet.

He was freshened for the Hopeful, where he had trouble from start to finish while getting beat 17 1/4 lengths. He fell past the finish line but was uninjured.

Contessa said that Runaway Lute “lost his mind in the gate” in the Hopeful, kicking the back door and nearly trying to sit down.

“I don’t understand the ride afterward,” Contessa said. “He was so bad in the gate, that had a lot to do with it.”

On Thursday, Runaway Lute worked six furlongs in 1:15.57, pulling away from his workmate, Control Group, in deep stretch while getting his final three furlongs in 36.86 seconds.

“I loved his work. I thought he went great,” Contessa said.