Santa Anita: Midnight Lute distance perfect for Cyclometer

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cyclometer should find the six-furlong distance ideal in Saturday’s $75,000 Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita.

A 6-year-old horse, Cyclometer was the convincing winner of an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park on Nov. 7, pulling away by 2 1/4 lengths. When he returned after a relatively short rest to finish second to Rousing Sermon in the On Trust Handicap for California-breds at 7 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 24, the distance may have been too far.

Since the On Trust, Cyclometer has had four workouts, including five furlongs in 59 seconds on Dec. 26, the fastest of 35 works at the distance. Mike Smith has the mount on Cyclometer, who is trained by Bruce Headley and owned by breeders Headley and Andrew and Irwin Molasky.

“I love how easy he does his work,” said Karen Headley, who assists her father Bruce. “He always sits and comes around with a wide move.”

Cyclometer drew the outside post in the field of five in the Midnight Lute. Karen Headley said the race will likely be a prep for the $125,000 California Cup Sprint at six furlongs on Jan. 25.

Cyclometer has yet to win a stakes, and faces two stakes winners in the Midnight Lute: Midnight Transfer, who won the San Pedro Stakes here in January 2012, and Anillo, who won the James Kostoff Stakes at the Los Angeles County Fair last September. Also in the field are the stakes-placed runners Moonshine Bay, a 15-time winner from Northern California, and Color of Courage.

Midnight Transfer has not raced since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park last May, a layoff caused by injury, trainer Carla Gaines said. Midnight Transfer has been successful after a layoff in the past. A 5-year-old horse by Hard Spun, Midnight Transfer won an optional claimer here last January off a nine-month layoff.

“I wish I had another work in him, to be honest,” Gaines said.

At the same time, Gaines said she was encouraged by Midnight Transfer’s workouts in late December.

“He does everything with compete ease,” she said. “This race will put him right.”