HOT SPRINGS — Big Lute survives big scare
Big Lute’s big performance almost never happened.
Trainer Steve Hobby said his dazzling debut winner last week at Oaklawn Park nearly died late last summer because of what appeared to be a neurological disorder.
“It was awful,” Hobby said. “I thought we were going to have to put him to sleep.”
Now, Hobby is basking in Big Lute’s 4 3/4-length victory Friday afternoon under Robby Albarado. Big Lute, a 3-year-old son of two time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute, ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.43.
Big Lute is owned by one of Hobby’s major clients, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway.
Hobby said he expected Big Lute to run well, but added he’s been fooled by horses before.
“You never know until you run them,” Hobby said.
“I’ve had so many horses disappointment me over the years. Train good, and you thought they were something. But race day, it’s different. But I expected him to do just what he did.”
Hobby said he would prefer to stretch out Big Lute in his next start, ideally a two-turn race in about three weeks.
The Lieblongs purchased Big Lute for $275,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Hobby said Big Lute was never close to a race last year.
After coming out of a work last summer at Monmouth Park in New Jersey with a tender shin, Hobby said Big Lute was sent to Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, where he used an underwater treadmill to maintain fitness while recovering from the injury.
Hobby said a couple of weeks later, he was informed by Fair Hill that Big Lute was suffering from what appeared to be a neurological problem.
“He’s dragging his back feet,” Hobby said. “You could push him over from behind with one finger.”
Hobby said Big Lute tested negative for any neurological disorders, including Wobbler’s Syndrome, which can lead to incoordination because of problems involving the spinal cord.
Hobby said he believes Big Lute pinched a nerve in his spine, possibly after becoming cast in his stall.
Big Lute recovered from his near-fatal physical problem after being turned out last fall, Hobby said.
“He’s never had a problem since,” Hobby said.
They’re back
Wine Glow, a 3-year old Tiznow filly entered in Thursday’s seventh race, is scheduled to be the first starter at the meeting to carry the famed devil’s red and blue silks of Calumet Farm, the Lexington, Ky., breeding and training facility operated by billionaire Brad Kelley.
Kelley’s horses, including recent stakes winners Oxbow and Optimizer, have previously carried his Bluegrass Hall LLC colors (black and gold chevrons).
According to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization, the Calumet Farm silks were last worn June 17, 2011, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Kelley began leasing Calumet in 2012.
Thursday’s card
Right to Vote, scratched from a Jan. 20 second-level allowance/optional claiming sprint, is scheduled to make his 4-year-old debut in Thursday’s eighth race.
The second-level allowance/optional claiming sprint has a purse of $55,000.
Runner-up in last year’s $200,000 Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont in New York, Right to Vote hasn’t started since June because of a bone bruise in a rear leg.
Thursday’s seventh race is a maiden-allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies and features first-time starters Rocket Ninety Nine (by Medaglia d’Oro), Miffed (Purge), Even Song (Street Cry) and Happy Everafter (Grand Slam).
Rocket Ninety Nine, a $170,000 purchase last year, is owned by Frank Fletcher of North Little Rock.
Miffed recorded an eye catching half-mile workout Saturday (:47) for trainer Phil Sims.
Even Song is out of multiple stakes winner Brownie Points, runner-up to Zenyatta in the $500,000Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap in 2008 at Oaklawn.
Also entered is Sanaaya, who is turning back to a sprint after three consecutive route races.
She is out of 2006 Apple Blossom winner Spun Sugar.
Final furlong
All four winning CLASSIX tickets Sunday, each worth $22,167.20, were sold off track. … There have been 85 claims totaling $1,267,500 at the meeting. … Trainer Lynn Whiting said if Officer Alex works well this week, the 3-year-old colt will be pointed toward the $300,000Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 18. … Trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said Top Priority, a 3-year-old full brother to multiple stakes winner Tiz Miz Sue, will not run at the meeting because of a tibial stress fracture in a rear leg. Hobby said the injury is not serious and Top Priority, sixth in his only career start last year, should resurface this summer. … Hobby said Joe Rocco Jr. will ride Tiz Miz Sue in her 2013 debut, the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes on Feb. 16. … Bahama Bound worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.40 on Sunday morning for trainer Grant Forster, who is pointing the 6-year-old for the Bayakoa. … Titletown Five worked 3 furlongs in :37.20 on Sunday morning for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who is pointing the 3-year-old son of Tiznow for a March return.
Titletown Five hasn’t started since an Oct. 28 maiden victory. … Boss Man Rocket remains on the grounds after his seventh-place finish in a Jan. 26 entry-level allowance race for owner Frank Fletcher of North Little Rock. Fletcher’s racing manager, Kathy Howard of Hot Springs, said the 3-yearold colt came out of the race in good shape, but next-race plans are undecided. He had been based at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Road to the Derby
Road to the Kentucky Derby points
RK HORSE .........................POINTS
1.) Shanghai Bobby ............................ 24
2.) Goldencents .................................. 24
3.) Oxbow ............................... 11
4.) Violence ......................................... 10
5.) Itsmyluckyday ............................... 10
6.) Overanalyze ................................... 10
7.) Upcaptured ................................... 10
8.) Den’s Legacy ....................... 10
9.) Power Broker ................................ 10
10.) Will Take Charge ................ 10
11.) Falling Sky ................................... 10
12.) (tie) Revolutionary ...................... 10
12.) Flashback .................................... 10
14.) Dynamic Sky ................................. 8
15.) He’s Had Enough .......................... 6
16.) Tesseron ........................................ 5
17.) Bern Identity ................................. 4
18.) Capo Bastone ................................ 4
19.) (tie) Know More ............................ 4
19.) Texas Bling ......................... 4
SOURCE Churchill Downs NOTE Oxbow, Will Take Charge and Texas Bling are based at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. Den’s Legacy is owned by Westrock Stables LLC (Joe and Scott Ford of Little Rock).
At a glance DAY 14
ATTENDANCE 3,455 ON-TRACK HANDLE $322,506.40 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,974,448.10 TOTAL HANDLE $2,296,954.50 CLASSIX CARRYOVER None.
SUNDAY’S STARS Ricardo Santana Jr. rode three winners, including two for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.
THURSDAY’S TIMES First post for the nine races is 1:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.
THURSDAY’S TELEVISION HRTV (full card), Oaklawn Today replays (8 p.m., Resort Cable Channel 5 11 p.m., KARZ, Channel 42, Little Rock, 11 p.m.) THURSDAY’S RADIO Oaklawn Morning Line (8:45 a.m., KVRE-FM, 92.9, Hot Springs Village) THURSDAY’S SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Tampa Bay Downs (11:25 a.m.), Aqueduct (11:30 a.m.), Gulfstream Park (11:45 a.m.), Fair Grounds (1 p.m.), Golden Gate Fields (2:45 p.m.), Santa Anita (3 p.m.), Penn National (5 p.m.), Delta Downs (5:45 p.m.), Charles Town (6:15 p.m.), Southland (6:30 p.m.)
Sports, Pages 18 on 02/04/2013