Gimme Da Lute Runs Away in Echo Eddie

Heavily favored Gimme Da Lute sat second early and marched to an emphatic 5 ¼ length win in Saturday’s $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden by Martin Garcia and conditioned by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old colt by Midnight Lute stopped the clock in a rapid 1:14.64 for 6 ½ furlongs.

Off as the even money favorite in a field of nine sophomores bred or sired in California, Gimme Da Lute paid $4.00, $2.60 and $2.20. Owned by his breeders, Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, Gimme Da Lute notched his second win from three starts, with the only blemish on his resume a nose defeat against open maiden company in his first start on Jan. 31. With the winner’s share of $110,000, Gimme Da Lute’s earnings now stand at $158,160.

“Winning in California is always great, especially having a Cal-bred here,” said Pegram, who also owned the colt’s sire, Midnight Lute, his dam, Casino Gold, and his grand sire, Real Quiet. “We bred Casino Gold in Kentucky and brought her to California specifically to be foaled here so we could run this colt as a Cal-bred. It’s always good when plans work like you hope, and the way he won today, I can’t wait for him to run again.”

Second to eventual third place finisher Richard’s Boy turning for home, Gimme Da Lute exploded clear and improved by roughly 10 lengths on his maiden win at the same distance Feb. 21.

“First time I ran him, I had completely forgotten that he was a Cal-bred,” said Baffert. “Somebody forgot to give me that memo, so here we are. We have different options with him. He’ll determine where we run next. He was working great. We’re looking for bigger and better things.”

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Grazen Sky rallied from off the pace to finish second, a half length in front of Richard’s Boy. Off at 3-1, Grazen Sky paid $3.60 and $2.40.

Richard’s Boy, who was ridden by Fernando Perez, was off at 7-2 and paid $3.00 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.13, 44.77 and 1:08.36.