Street Boss Third In Breeders' Cup Sprint

Baffert's Midnight Lute Gave Trainer Three BC Wins

Nov 19, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg

A son of dual Triple Crown race winner Real Quiet, Midnight Lute soared to defend his Breeders' Cup Sprint title. Street Boss, son of Street Cry, was good for third.

Midnight Lute, between dealing with blinkers and a grabbed quarter, had gotten angry, so long-time trainer Bob Baffert got the hoof repaired and took the equipment off for Lute's Breeders' Cup Sprint title defense October 25 at Santa Anita, where the "Big ol' Tank" -- jockey Garrett Gomez's words -- took off like a shot and grabbed his second straight crown.

Street Boss, no one's easy matchup, was in good position in the six furlong Sprint. Inside, with David Flores on the reins, Street Boss readied to fashion an upset run over the reigning Tank. There was hesitation on the part of Boss and Flores when a slight opening would have allowed them to swing around the leaders, a normal strategy for Boss.

In that moment of doubt, Lute jumped out and began his powerful run-down.

Complete Order of Finish 208 Breeders' Cup Sprint

The complete order of finish of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Sprint, along with the entrants' season records prior to the contest, and their pedigrees and jockeys follows:

  1. Midnight Lute ----- 1:1-0-0 ----- Real Quiet--Candytuft, by Dehere ----- G. Gomez
  2. Fatal Bullet ----- 7:6-0-0 ----- Red Bullet--Sararegal, by Regal Classic ----- E. Da Silva
  3. Street Boss ----- 8:6-2-0 ----- Street Cry (IRE)--Blushig Ogygian, by Ogygian ----- D. Flores
  4. In Summation ----- 6:2-1-1 ----- Put It Back--Fiesta Baby, by Dayjur ----- J. Velazquez
  5. Fabulous Strike ----- 2:1-1-0 ----- Smart Strike--Fabulous Find, by Lost Code ----- R. Dominguez
  6. Sing Baby Sing ----- 4:1-3-0 ----- Unbridled's Song--Roll Over Baby, by Rollin On Over ----- J. Shepard
  7. Black Seventeen ----- 4:1-2-0 ----- Is It True--Fuzzy Navel, by Strike the Anvil ----- C. Potts
  8. First Defense ----- 6:3-1-0 ----- Unbridled's Song--Honest Lady, by Seattle Slew ----- J. Castellano

Midnight Lute Gets Happy for BC Sprint

In his only BC prep race, Midnight Lute, a big beautiful black 17-hander, grabbed a quarter with fairly bad results. It happened in the August 24 Pat O'Brien Handicap. After Lute's external problems had been dealt with, Baffert observed, the Big ol' Tank's demeanor visibly changed.

Calm and happy, he was ready to rumble heading into the BC Sprint.

Baffert Won BC Sprint in 1992

Baffert's Thirty Slews won the BC Sprint in 1992. With Midnight Lute's win last season, Baffert was going for his third Sprint championship.

He had considered running Indian Blessing in the boys' Sprint, but decided to keep his explosive three-yeaar-old filly with the girls. Indian Blessing obliged that choice by finishing a strong second in the ladies Sprint on "Filly Friday", October 24, the first day of the 2008 competition.

Many BC Sprint winners -- Speightstown, Orientate, Precisionist, Eillo, Artax, and Reraise, as well as others -- have gone on to win the Eclipse Award for best Sprinter.

Because of Midnight Lute's lack of starts, it may not be so this year, but the Tank proved that he's best when he's right.

Street Boss May Get Year-End Honors

With six wins from nine starts, two seconds, and a third in the Breeders' Cup, Street Boss may be in line for Eclipse Sprinter of the Year.

Fatal Bullet also has a strong case. He won six times from eight starts, including a second in the Breeders' Cup, and had just one off the board performance.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your ballots.

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