NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
By Sarah Mace
Runaway Lute (Midnight Lute) ticked lots of exciting boxes on Empire Showcase Day when he scored a decisive victory in the Hudson Handicap. First, he ratified a brilliant performance last-out in a state-bred allowance back on July 4, for which he earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure. Second, he handed his owners Harold Lerner LLC and Nehoc Stables a second career stakes victory. Last, but not least, Runaway Lute earned Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano his 5,000th career victory.
Runaway Lute launched his career in a dramatic way, airing by 12 lengths in his career debut on May 28, 2016, and following up with an 8 3/4-length score in the Rockville Center. Winless in five starts at three, he was out of competition with an ankle injury from November 2017 until June of this year.
Runaway Lute shook off the rust this June with a third-place finish in a second-level allowance, then delivered his July 4 coup, when he completed seven furlongs in 1:21.37. Another run of bad luck, however, kept him from starting at Saratoga. Scratched after flipping in the paddock before the John Morrissey Stakes on July 26, he suffered a minor injury during a July 30 work. Even though he was out of competition for 108 days, conditioner Gary Contessa had him expertly-prepared for the challenge of taking on the highly competitive 8-horse field Hudson field.
Forwardly placed after breaking from his outside post under Castellano, Runaway Lute (5-1) set up shop in the three-path as Eye Luv Lulu won the scramble for the early lead.
Confidently moving up a few spots to challenge Eye Luv Lulu for the top spot, Runaway Lute wrested away the lead in the approach to the far turn before opening up to a 2-length advantage.
NYRA/Coglianese Photos
Asked for more in upper and mid-stretch as the closers began to encroach, Runaway Lute dug in and held off 2-1 favorite Gold for the King who was closing with intent. Hitting the wire in a fast final time of 1:15.70, Runaway Lute’s secured the victory by a three-quarter length margin. Gold For the King in second finished three-quarters of a length clear of Celtic Chaos, who closed to get the show. [VIDEO REPLAY]
“It’s been a lot of work getting him to this race,” Contessa. “He’s the kind of horse where every time you think you’re going in the right direction, he takes a step back. He has a foot bruise, he has this, he has that. So, we had a lot of trouble getting him to this race. But when he gets it all together, every so often, everything goes right.”
Continued Contessa, “He had trained really well for this race, but believe me, until the gate opens, and he comes out, I’m [on edge]. Because anything can happen. He has a history of flipping in the paddock, flipping in the gate, doing stupid things. He was nice, and to have Castellano’s 5,000th winner, it’s an honor.”
Runaway Lute was bred by Windlea Farm and foaled at Tender Loving Care in Slate. He is the second black-type winner for his dam, Nikki Tootsie, an unplaced Maryland-bred daughter of Waquoit whose first foal Judy Soda (Personal Flag) was a multiple New York-bred stakes-winning homebred for Scott Solar who earned nearly $400,000. Nikki Tootsie’s English Channel filly Style Drift has earned six figures. In all Nikki Tootsie has produced seven winners from eight foals to start. Her most recent reported foal is a 2-year-old filly named Laurentian by Midshipman who is unplaced to date.
Runaway Lute was purchased by Harold Lerner for $77,000 the consignment of McMahon of Saratoga at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale. After 12 starts, he has compiled a record of four wins a second and two thirds and has earned $276,805.
Javier Castellano, a four-time Eclipse Award winner, was both ecstatic and humble about becoming the 34th jockey to achieve the benchmark of 5,000 wins.
“I feel great and very excited. I’m very thankful to be here in New York to win my 5,000th race. First, I have to thank God for giving me the skill and opportunity to ride horses. I’ve been very lucky in my life and career.”
Castellano spread his gratitude around. “I’m thankful to all the owners and trainers who have helped me get to this point, as well as my wonderful wife. She supports me as well as my kids. It’s not an easy job. My father-in-law Terry Meyocks and my mom, [they have] always supported me. All of the sacrifices [such as] not being able to see your family for days and sometimes even three months when we’re riding in Florida. I’m so thankful that it has paid off. I’ve had a successful career.”
Castellano’s says one thing that is still on his “bucket list” is winning the Kentucky Derby. “Four Eclipse Awards, being a Hall of Fame inductee…but I don’t feel that I’m toward the end. I still have goals. Number one is to win the Kentucky Derby. I’ve always been trying to chase and win that race one day. Hopefully everything falls in the right direction and the right horse and trip to win the Kentucky Derby. I’m very proud to be in the company I am with 5,000 winners.”
