Undefeated Runaway Lute Targets Hopeful

Undefeated 2-year-old New York-bred Runaway Lute is nominated to the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special August 14, but will await the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful Stakes on closing day, September 5, trainer Gary Contessa said Saturday morning.

On Friday, Runaway Lute worked for the first time since winning last month's restricted Rockville Centre at Belmont Park. The five-furlong move over the Oklahoma training track was timed in 1:01.20, breezing. Former jockey Nick Santagata was aboard for the work.

"Runaway Lute does everything so easy," Contessa said. "I tell Santagata on the walkie-talkie, 'Nick, sit.' He's got his feet [on the dashboard], and the horse goes 12, 24, 36, and 101, and Nick never turned his head loose. That's how good this horse is right now."

While winning the Rockville Centre by 8 3/4 lengths after stumbling at the gate, the son of Midnight Lute lost a shoe.

"It took me about two weeks to get the tenderness out of that foot," Contessa said. "So, yesterday's work was just supposed to be a maintenance work. It was way more than I expected, but he did it while under a stranglehold."

Runaway Lute is owned by Howard Lerner and Nehoc Stables. Lerner bought the colt last year for $77,000 out of Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale of New York-breds. Contessa said Lerner has been approached about selling Runaway Lute, but is not interested.

"Harold told me not to entertain any [offers]," Contessa said. "I think Harold is enjoying himself with this horse, so no offers, and that is great by me."

Source: NYRA Communications