Distinctiv Passion takes inaugural Midnight Lute Stakes

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Distinctiv Passion, ridden by Mike Smith, led the entire way in winning Saturday’s inaugural running of the $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita.

Trained by Jeff Bonde, Distinctiv Passion broke sharply from the far outside post for the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, formerly the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Distinctiv Passion, the 6-1 second choice in the seven-horse field, continued to set the pace with moderate pressure from 28-1 longshot Heir of Storm and 3-10 favorite Secret Circle, the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner.

“I was just trying to get along with him,” Smith said. “The way to keep him going turning for home is to get along with him on the backside. If you can’t do that, they won’t finish for you. I wanted to keep him happy and I was in a great post to do that.”

Owned by Edward J. Brown, Jr., Alan Klein, and Phillip Lebherz, Distinctiv Passion was never seriously challenged down the stretch and posted a 1 3/4- length victory over Heir of Storm.

“Down the lane he was able to hold them off. I was running on fumes by the end but you’re supposed to when you go that fast,” the Hall of Fame jockey said.

Finishing third was Appealing Tale followed by Secret Circle, second in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Seeking the Sherif, Bahamian Squall and Bolita Boyz.

The time for the Midnight Lute was 1:14.55 on a fast track.

“I was happy he drew outside,” Bonde noted. “Historically, I’ve never trained a horse that’s quicker up the backside. He wants to lock on the bridle like an alligator, and over the last six months in the mornings, he started to relax and then kick and run late.

“I was hoping it transferred to the afternoon. Today’s the first time I ever saw him sit and then kick and run, so he is learning, finally.”

Distinctiv Passion recorded his second straight win and pocketed $60,000 for the effort. The colt has earned $336,180 with six wins from 13 lifetime starts.

The 4-year-old’s 2014 season closes with just three starts, two of which were wins and a second. He won an allowance race on Nov. 14 at Del Mar after finally returning to the races on Sept. 20 with a second to Seeking the Sherif in the Katella Stakes at Los Alamitos.

As a 3-year-old, Distinctiv Passion won the San Pedro and Green Flash Handicap and was third in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship after setting most of the pace.

Distinctiv Passion returned $15.60, $9.00 and $10.00. Heir of Storm paid $22.20 and $22.40, and Appealing Tale paid $22.40 to show.

Categorized in: Horses