STREET LUTE KEEPS PLAYING WINNING TUNE
The wins just keep piling up for the impressive Street Lute.
Owned by Lucky 7 Stable and trained by John Robb, Street Lute won her fifth consecutive stakes races and seventh race in eight starts when she moved three-wide at the top of the stretch to win the $100,000 Wide Country by a length over Fraudulent Charge. Salt Plage checked in third.
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A daughter of Street Magician ridden by Xavier Perez, Street Lute covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.59.
“From the beginning we all thought she was a very special horse and I think that Jerry’s said that in every interview,” said Gina Robb, assistant, and wife of John Robb. “Now with so many stakes under her belt and her performance today, I think she’s finally stamped it. Today was definitely a big day and I think it was her toughest company today.”
Breaking alertly from the gate, Perez rated Street Lute in third while Little Huntress was pressed by Whiskey and Rye through brisk fractions of 22:62 and :441.91. But around the turn, Street Lute carried Perez effortlessly to the front and drove away from the competition as Fraudulent Charge closed for the place.
“My concern when I was watching the race was, I said, ‘Wow, I don’t feel like he’s asking her but she’s not going anywhere. They must be flying.’ So, when I saw the 44 [second half-mile] I said, ‘Oh, thank goodness.’ Then once he asked her, it was all over,” Gina Robb said. “Able to chase that pace and finish the way she did? That was pretty spectacular.”
“Seven-eighths today, in great fashion. I think it was even better than the day she won the Maryland Juvenile [Filly Championship going] seven-eighths. I think she kind of proved a point today.”
Said Perez: “She likes running after horses up front. I saw Brittany’s horse go and we settled in nice. This race set up perfect for us just like Jerry said. I was so confident off the turn we were cruising to the wire.”
In other stakes action, Bankit took the John B. Campbell for trainer Steve Asmussen, giving rider Sheldon Russell his second stakes win of the afternoon; and the Mike Trombetta-trained Lucky Stride cruised in the Nellie Morse with Julian Pimentel up. Both were favored at post time.
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