Midnight Lute (USA)
May 13, 2003 – Living
Real Quiet (USA) x Candytuft (USA), by Dehere (USA)
Family 3-j
May 13, 2003 – Living
Real Quiet (USA) x Candytuft (USA), by Dehere (USA)
Family 3-j
A horse of the classic type in build and pedigree, Midnight Lute was unable to last around two turns thanks to a throat problem which impeded his breathing. What the problem did not impact was his speed, which Midnight Lute had in plenty. The first two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (USA-G1), he showed a dazzling turn of foot when at his best. As a stallion, he has sired progeny more in keeping with his bloodlines than with his own physical limitations, supporting the opinion that with normal respiration, 9 or 10 furlongs should have been within his scope. He has not been the most consistent of stallions but has had his moments.
Race record
13 starts, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,690,900
2006:
2007:
2008:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds based on his Breeders’ Cup Sprint performance on the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for 2007, 10 pounds below overall highweight Manduro but tops among sprint performers.
Rated at 123 pounds based on his Breeders’ Cup Sprint performance on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2008, 7 pounds below overall co-highweights Curlin (the American Horse of the Year) and New Approach (the European champion 3-year-old male) but tied for tops among sprint performers with Chairman’s Sprint Prize (HK-G1) winner Sacred Kingdom.
As an individual
A lengthy, handsome dark bay or brown horse who stands 17 hands, Midnight Lute has good rein length, an excellent shoulder, and short cannons. He is generally correct and has good bone. He preferred to come from off the pace in his races and had a tremendous turn of foot. He was limited to sprint distances by a chronic throat issue and missed most of his 5-year-old season due to a hock injury suffered after his 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint win and a foot injury suffered while finishing 10th in the 2008 Pat O’Brien Handicap (USA-G2).
As a stallion
Midnight Lute’s progeny have been successful over a variety of distances. The stallion generally passes on his own good looks.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Keeper ofthe Stars (USA), Midnight Bisou (USA), Midnight Lucky (USA), Midnight Miley (USA), Shakin It Up (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Midnight Lute was bred by Tom Evans, Macon Wilmil Equines, & Marjac Farms. A US$70,000 yearling at the 2004 Keeneland September sale, he was an RNA on a US$290,000 bid at the 2005 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Following that sale, he was sold privately to Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman (with the last two racing the colt with Pegram under the name of Watson & Weitman Performances LLC). Midnight Lute was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Sprint victories by Garrett Gomez. He entered stud in 2009 in Kentucky at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms.
Pedigree notes
Midnight Lute is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Fancy Deed (by Alydeed), dam of two-time Shakertown Stakes (USA-G2) winner Bound for Nowhere (by The Factor), and is out of the unraced Dehere mare Candytuft, who is a half sister to Kafiyah (by Shadeed), dam of Indian listed stakes winner Ronaldo (by Dehere).
Candytuft and Kafiyah are out of 1984 La Prevoyante Handicap (USA-G3) winner Bolt from the Blue (by Blue Times, a Grade 2-winning son of Olden Times), a half sister to 1984 Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Alydar’s Best (by Alydar) and to Italian listed stakes winner Exotic Source (by The Minstrel; dam of multiple listed stakes winner Saratoga Source, by Saratoga Six). The next dam in Midnight Lute’s tail-female line, Berkut (by Sea-Bird) is a full sister to 1970 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Gyr and to Sys Superstar, dam of Grade 2 winner Euphrosyne (by Judger) and multiple stakes winner Kuja Happa (by Tell) and second dam of six stakes winners including 1994 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G2) winner Risen Raven. Produced from Feria II (whose sire Toulouse Lautrec was the Italian champion 3-year-old male of 1953), Berkut is also a half sister to Italian stakes winners Daddy Dunphy (by Cohoes) and Mudela (by Sir Gaylord). The last-named mare is the dam of multiple Swiss stakes winner King for a Day (by Crowned Prince) and the second dam of 1982 Premio Emilio Turati (ITY-G1) winner Stifelius and multiple Italian Group 3 winner Duca di Busted.
Books and media
Footage of Midnight Lute’s victory in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8SSRqn6wmQ.
Fun facts
Photo credits
Top and bottom photographs taken by Jessica Morgan at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2009. Used by permission.
Race record
13 starts, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,690,900
2006:
- Won Perryville Stakes (USA-G3, @7FA, Keeneland; new track record 1:24.38)
- 3rd Malibu Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Santa Anita)
2007:
- Won Forego Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile (USA-G1, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd San Fernando Stakes (USA-G2, 9FA, Santa Anita)
2008:
- Won Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FA, Santa Anita)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (2007)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion sprinter (2008)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds based on his Breeders’ Cup Sprint performance on the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for 2007, 10 pounds below overall highweight Manduro but tops among sprint performers.
Rated at 123 pounds based on his Breeders’ Cup Sprint performance on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2008, 7 pounds below overall co-highweights Curlin (the American Horse of the Year) and New Approach (the European champion 3-year-old male) but tied for tops among sprint performers with Chairman’s Sprint Prize (HK-G1) winner Sacred Kingdom.
As an individual
A lengthy, handsome dark bay or brown horse who stands 17 hands, Midnight Lute has good rein length, an excellent shoulder, and short cannons. He is generally correct and has good bone. He preferred to come from off the pace in his races and had a tremendous turn of foot. He was limited to sprint distances by a chronic throat issue and missed most of his 5-year-old season due to a hock injury suffered after his 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint win and a foot injury suffered while finishing 10th in the 2008 Pat O’Brien Handicap (USA-G2).
As a stallion
Midnight Lute’s progeny have been successful over a variety of distances. The stallion generally passes on his own good looks.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 2020.
Notable progeny
Keeper ofthe Stars (USA), Midnight Bisou (USA), Midnight Lucky (USA), Midnight Miley (USA), Shakin It Up (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Midnight Lute was bred by Tom Evans, Macon Wilmil Equines, & Marjac Farms. A US$70,000 yearling at the 2004 Keeneland September sale, he was an RNA on a US$290,000 bid at the 2005 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Following that sale, he was sold privately to Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman (with the last two racing the colt with Pegram under the name of Watson & Weitman Performances LLC). Midnight Lute was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Sprint victories by Garrett Gomez. He entered stud in 2009 in Kentucky at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms.
Pedigree notes
Midnight Lute is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Fancy Deed (by Alydeed), dam of two-time Shakertown Stakes (USA-G2) winner Bound for Nowhere (by The Factor), and is out of the unraced Dehere mare Candytuft, who is a half sister to Kafiyah (by Shadeed), dam of Indian listed stakes winner Ronaldo (by Dehere).
Candytuft and Kafiyah are out of 1984 La Prevoyante Handicap (USA-G3) winner Bolt from the Blue (by Blue Times, a Grade 2-winning son of Olden Times), a half sister to 1984 Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Alydar’s Best (by Alydar) and to Italian listed stakes winner Exotic Source (by The Minstrel; dam of multiple listed stakes winner Saratoga Source, by Saratoga Six). The next dam in Midnight Lute’s tail-female line, Berkut (by Sea-Bird) is a full sister to 1970 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Gyr and to Sys Superstar, dam of Grade 2 winner Euphrosyne (by Judger) and multiple stakes winner Kuja Happa (by Tell) and second dam of six stakes winners including 1994 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G2) winner Risen Raven. Produced from Feria II (whose sire Toulouse Lautrec was the Italian champion 3-year-old male of 1953), Berkut is also a half sister to Italian stakes winners Daddy Dunphy (by Cohoes) and Mudela (by Sir Gaylord). The last-named mare is the dam of multiple Swiss stakes winner King for a Day (by Crowned Prince) and the second dam of 1982 Premio Emilio Turati (ITY-G1) winner Stifelius and multiple Italian Group 3 winner Duca di Busted.
Books and media
Footage of Midnight Lute’s victory in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8SSRqn6wmQ.
Fun facts
- Midnight Lute was named in honor of Lute Olson, then the basketball coach at the University of Arizona.
- Midnight Lute’s Beyer Speed Figure of 124 for the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Sprint was the highest BSF for any American runner that year.
- Midnight Lute became the namesake for a stakes race at Santa Anita.
Photo credits
Top and bottom photographs taken by Jessica Morgan at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2009. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 3, 2024