Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Distinctiv Passion, ridden by Mike Smith,
led the entire way in winning Saturday’s inaugural running of the $100,000
Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita.
Trained by Jeff Bonde, Distinctiv Passion broke sharply from the far outside
post for the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, formerly the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at
Hollywood Park.
Distinctiv Passion, the 6-1 second choice in the seven-horse field, continued
to set the pace with moderate pressure from 28-1 longshot Heir of Storm and
1-5 favorite Secret Circle, the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner.
Owned by Edward J. Brown, Jr., Alan Klein, and Phillip Lebherz, Distinctiv
Passion was never seriously challenged down the stretch and posted a two-
length victory over Heir of Storm.
Finishing third was Appealing Tale followed by Secret Circle, second in this
year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Seeking the Sherif, Bahamian Squall and Bolita
Boyz.
The time for the Midnight Lute was 1:14.55 on a fast track.
Distinctiv Passion recorded his second straight win and pocketed $60,000 for
the effort. The colt has earned $336,180 with six wins from 13 lifetime
starts.
The 4-year-old’s 2014 season closes with just three starts, two of which were
wins and a second. He won an allowance race on Nov. 14 at Del Mar after
finally returning to the races on Sept. 20 with a second to Seeking the Sherif
in the Katella Stakes at Los Alamitos.
As a 3-year-old, Distinctiv Passion won the San Pedro and Green Flash Handicap
and was third in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship after setting most of the
pace.
Distinctiv Passion returned $15.60, $9.00 and $10.00. Heir of Storm paid
$22.20 and $22.40, and Appealing Tale paid $22.40 to show.
