For the second time in less than one month, Gimme Da Lute got the better of Prospect Park, holding off his rival by a nose to win the Grade II, $350,000 Los Alamitos Derby Saturday. The 1-2 finishers in the Grade III Affirmed Stakes June 7 at Santa Anita dominated the Derby, finishing nearly eight lengths in front of pacesetter and 2-5 favorite Kentuckian.
For the second time in less than one month, Gimme Da Lute got the better of Prospect Park, holding off his rival by a nose to win the Grade II, $350,000 Los Alamitos Derby Saturday. The 1-2 finishers in the Grade III Affirmed Stakes June 7 at Santa Anita dominated the Derby, finishing nearly eight lengths in front of pacesetter and 2-5 favorite Kentuckian.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for owner-breeders Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Gimme Da Lute, a 3-year-old son of Midnight Lute and the Proud Citizen mare Casino Gold, tracked the leader for most of the 1 1/8 miles, got the lead entering the long stretch and scored under jockey Martin Garcia as the 3-1 second choice.
The win in 1:47.09 was the fourth in seven starts for Gimme Da Lute and the $210,000 payday increased his bankroll to $457,560.
“I’m glad to be back here at Los Alamitos where it all started and winning this race means a lot to me,” said Baffert, the Triple Crown winning trainer of American Pharoah.
The total combined mutuel handle of $8,022,511.76 on the July 4 program – highlighted by Gimme Da Lute’s narrow victory in Los Alamitos Derby – was the largest since thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos a year ago.
The handle increased 5.37 % through the first week of the 2015 Summer Thoroughbred Festival over the inaugural season the previous July. The total handle this year through four days is $26,209,149 compared to $24,873,656 in 2014.
Apprentice jockey Bruno Panicucci earned his first win in the United States when 20-1 shot Princess Val captured Saturday’s second race at Los Alamitos.
The 19-year-old won four races in Europe before arriving in Southern California earlier this year. Racing resumes Thursday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2:15 p.m.