Bank Heist, a winning half-brother to champion sprinter and two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Midnight Lute, has been retired and will stand the 2012 breeding season at Kaz Hill Farm near Middletown, N.Y.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
After a sizzling opening session Oct. 24, it didn't take the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale long to generate a six-figure price during its second session.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Two fillies that each sold for $110,000 highlighted the 11th session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Thursday, September 22, 2011A Midnight Lute filly purchased by SGV Thoroughbreds brought the top price of $110,000 Aug. 23 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. select yearling sale.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Big Brown, the 2008 champion 3-year-old male and dual classic winner, took a major step up as a stallion at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling sale.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Eddie Woods answers questions about pinhooking, conformation, vet exams, Midnight Lute, and more.
Stormy Atlantic, who is represented this year by 10 stakes winners and the earners of $5.9 million, will stand in 2011 for $30,000 at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The first reported foal by Eclipse Award winner Midnight Lute is the initial offspring out of grade I winner Touch Tiz's Sis.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hosted by Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin, "And They're Off" is a bi-monthly online video series sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. This week, Lenny and Steve review the Eclipse Award winners. Plus, Everybody wants to buy a Derby Winner.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Eclipse Award attendees and the TVG viewers tuned in on the night of Jan. 26 were anticipating, and many were hoping, that Curlin would repeat as Horse of the Year.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Midnight Lute, the only horse to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) twice, has been retired from racing and will stand at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington in 2009.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Riding his fourth Breeders' Cup winner of the weekend, Garrett Gomez guided Midnight Lute to his second win in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park. The son of Real Quiet won the Sprint last year. The final time for six furlongs was 1:07.08.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Bob Baffert will send out a pair of Breeders' Cup champions this weekend in Midnight Lute and Indian Blessing, hoping to repeat his strong 2007 World Championships.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Past Breeders' Cup champions Curlin, Kip Deville, Ginger Punch, Indian Blessing, Midnight Lute, Better Talk Now, and Red Rocks are back trying for more glory.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Cost of Freedom and Street Boss drew posts 1 and 2, respectively, for the Sentient Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). The pair had finished one-two in the Sept. 27 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) over the same Pro-Ride synthetic surface they will be competing on in the Oct. 25 Sprint.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Midnight Lute, the defending Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner, worked a half-mile at Santa Anita Oct. 20. The official clockers timed him in :46.80 on the Pro-Ride surface, while trainer Bob Baffert clocked him in :47.07.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Trainer Bob Baffert will be trying to accomplish something in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) never done before-win the race twice with the same horse.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Illinois shipper Lewis Michael got a perfect setup along the inside to post a runaway upset in the $300,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 24. Champion sprinter Midnight Lute failed to fire.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Midnight Lute, last year's Eclipse Award champion sprinter, has been tearing up the track in the mornings as he prepares for his 2008 debut in the $300,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 24.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sprint champion Midnight Lute appears to be ready for his next start after working faster than the track record for seven furlongs on Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 7.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Bustin Stones worked March 22 in preparation for his grade I debut in the Carter Handicap on April 5. Trainer Bruce Levine said the undefeated colt will run on Lasix.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year in North America and officially the world's highest-rated horse still in training, heads a list of 169 horses nominated for the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) sponsored by Emirates Airline March 29.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Nominated as one of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's moments of the year, Midnight Lute's TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) feat cemented him as the obvious choice for an Eclipse Award as champion of his division.
Monday, January 21, 2008
With TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Midnight Lute skipping the race, synthetic track standout In Summation takes center stage in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) over the Santa Anita Cushion Track Jan. 21.
Friday, January 18, 2008For trainer Nick Zito, this week has truly been the best of times and the worst of times, at least where older horses are concerned. One day after 5-year-old Hesanoldsalt had to be euthanized following a freak accident at Palm Meadows, 7-year-old Commentator set a track record at Gulfstream Park - and blew away his competition with a 14-length victory Jan. 17.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Midnight Lute worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:10.60 on Santa Anita's Cushion Track Jan. 14 in preparation for the Jan. 21 Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II).
Monday, January 14, 2008
Midnight Lute, expected to earn an Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding sprinter in 2007 after his stirring win in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is being targeted for the Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) to begin his 2008 campaign.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Shadwell Stable's Daaher upset Midnight Lute, the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner, by 2 1/2 lengths in the $294,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. Midnight Lute, the 1-2 favorite in the five-horse field, finished second.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
When you have a horse at the top of his game, seize the moment and have some fun, says trainer Bob Baffert. With an Eclipse Award as top sprinter all but a certainty, Midnight Lute looks to add to his laurels in the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr.I) at Aqueduct Nov. 24.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tasteyville, who easily won the Sport Page Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 27, will not run in the Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Nov. 24 because of a minor leg injury.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Mike Pegram's Midnight Lute, winner of the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is expected for the Nov. 24 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I), which highlights Aqueduct's HolidayFest.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Start engraving the Eclipse Awards. This year's honors are all but a done deal. Despite the horrible conditions at Monmouth Park, the Breeders' Cup World Championships were surprisingly formful, with several favorites and leading contenders turning in dominating performances.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007Now as a sire, Classic winner Real Quiet is responsible for one of America's top sprinters, as evidenced by Midnight Lute's scintillating victory in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).
Saturday, October 27, 2007
With a strong last-to-first move in the slop at Monmouth Park, Midnight Lute stormed to a 4 3/4-length victory over the front-running Idiot Proof in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Jockeys John Velazquez and Garrett Gomez offered opinions on their Breeders' Cup mounts in an Oct. 25 press conference held at Monmouth Park the day before the Oct. 26-27 event was to get under way.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Watson and Weitman Performances and Mike Pegram's Midnight Lute, impressive winner of the Sept. 1 Forego Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga in his last start, is the early 2-1 favorite in a field of 11 entered in the $2-million TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint at Monmouth Park Oct. 27.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Breeders' Cup prospects Tale of Ekati and Benny the Bull both breezed on the fast Monmouth Park track Oct. 16 in preparation for their respective races, the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Southern California trainer Bob Baffert continues to see dividends from his decision to take a string from his Southern California stable to Saratoga. In the $250,000 Forego Handicap (gr. I), his Midnight Lute made the lead on the turn of the seven-furlong test and rolled to his first grade I win by more than two lengths under substitute rider Shaun Bridgmohan.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
New York: Either love it or hate it. There is no doubt what side of the fence High Finance falls on. The 4-year-old colt has started five times in the Empire State, and won four races. In nine other career tries, the Kentucky-bred has won just once. Go figure.
Thursday, August 30, 2007Silent Name, making his initial start on a synthetic surface, won for the first time in more than a year when he dominated 10 foes in the $400,000 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup (gr. II) at Keeneland Saturday.
Saturday, April 14, 2007Midnight Lute, who scored his first career stakes victory last October in Keeneland's Perryville (gr. III), returns to the Lexington track for the $400,000 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup (gr. II) on Saturday.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007Trainer Bob Baffert has two offspring of Real Quiet on target for stakes engagements in Kentucky. Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) winner Pussycat Doll will likely defend her title in the Humana Distaff Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 5, while Perryville Stakes (gr. III) winner Midnight Lute is pointing for the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup (gr. II) at Keeneland April 14.
Thursday, March 15, 2007Jay Em Ess Stable's Arson Squad shot through along the inside mid-stretch, going on to capture the $300,000 Strub (gr. II) for 4-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Saturday.
Saturday, February 03, 2007Brother Derek, his career on a downturn since a fourth straight graded stakes victory in last April's Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), needs a return to his best form in Saturday's 60th running of the $300,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) at his favorite track.
Thursday, February 01, 2007Upsetter Awesome Gem unleashed a terrific stretch drive to snatch victory from Midnight Lute in the final strides of the $200,000 San Fernando (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park Saturday.
Saturday, January 13, 2007Likely favorites Brother Derek and Arson Squad will switch riders for Saturday's $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
Thursday, January 11, 2007Garrett Gomez is likely to be aboard Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Brother Derek in the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita on opening day Tuesday.
Thursday, December 21, 2006Midnight Lute, a recent arrival from California trained by Bob Baffert, drew off by 4 3/4 lengths in winning the $200,000 Perryville Stakes (presented by Budweiser Select) (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Keeneland Friday.
Friday, October 13, 2006