Holy Lute Nips Fury Kapcori in El Cajon

Lightly-raced but talented Holy Lute gamely held off the stubborn challenge of 6-5 favored Fury Kapcori to win Friday’s featured $100,500 El Cajon Stakes for three-year-olds.

Holy Lute, responding generously to the urging of jockey David Flores, prevailed by a diminishing head in an exciting finish to the one-mile event. Tiz a Minister was third, almost three lengths behind Fury Kapcori, with Tree of Life fourth another half-length back.

Holy Lute, a son of Midnight Lute owned by Class Racing Stable and trained by Jim Cassidy, accomplished the distance in 1:35.38 to earn a purse of $60,000 with his second success in three starts. Sent postward at 6-1, Holy Lute paid $15, $6 and $4.

Fury Kapcori, who was piloted by leading rider Rafael Bejarano, returned $3.60 and $2.60, while Tiz a Minister paid $2.60 to show.

There was a single perfect ticket in the Pick Six and it returned $376,822. With a carryover from Thursday of $81,441 and $552,913 in “new” money Friday, the Pick Six pool totaled $634,354. Reportedly, the winning ticket was purchased on track.