BALTIMORE, Md. – Lucky 7 Stables’ Street Lute, third last month in her 4-year-old debut, seeks a return to her winning form as she chases a ninth career stakes victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Skipat at historic Pimlico Race Course.
Street Lute drew the rail in a field of 10 older female sprinters as she looks to snap a three-race losing streak, the longest of her career, dating back to the Maryland Million Distaff last October. She has run third in each of those races, most recently the April 23 Primonetta at Laurel Park off a five-month layoff.
“She’s doing really great. She just needed that race,” owner Joey Lloyd said. “It wasn’t in the plans to race three weeks ago, but she worked so good that [trainer] Jerry [Robb] said he was just going to put her in because she needs a race. She surprised everyone at how quick she came back and how strong she was breezing. Jerry said, ‘Let’s just put her in, give her a race and aim for Pimlico and try to go into this race even stronger.”
Street Lute has been working steadily at Laurel for her return, and the connections are pleased with how she has done since the Primonetta.
“She got tired at the end. I think that race got her fit. I think she really, really needed that race. Jerry was telling me that race almost like two works,” Lloyd said. “This is another year and she just loves what she does. She loves to race. She loves to be on the track, so I know she’s just as happy as we are.”
Jevian Toledo will be aboard Street Lute in the Skipat as Xavier Perez, the regular rider for both she and Fille d’Esprit, opted to ride her stablemate. C J I Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm’s Fille d’Esprit, 6, ran third in the Barbara Fritchie (G3) Feb. 19, won the Conniver by eight lengths March 19, and was second as the favorite to Pennybaker in the Heavenly Cause April 16.
“She’s an incredible horse,” Lloyd said of Street Lute. “I can’t wait. I’m excited. I know it’s not the Preakness but I’m still honored to be in a race on Preakness Day, growing up in Baltimore. Being able to be in a race on that day is pretty special, with a pretty special filly.”
The 7-2 program favorite is Cilla, owned by P. Dale Ladner, who also bred the horse in Louisiana with his trainer, Brett Brinkman. The 4-year-old daughter of Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner California Chrome owns six career stakes wins topped by the six-furlong Prioress (G2) last summer at Saratoga. She was sixth at odds of 30-1 in the April 9 Madison (G1) at Keeneland in her most recent start.
Bush Racing Stable, Liberty House Racing, BlackRidge Stables and George Saufley’s Kaylasaurus beat Street Lute in the Primonetta for her second stakes win, the first coming over Princess Kokachin – also trained by Robb – in the Dec. 26 Willa On the Move. That race was her first since being claimed by trainer Timothy Kreiser for $25,000 last November at Penn National.
Runnymoore Racing’s Cinnabunny, scratched from the Primonetta by trainer Cal Lynch to run instead in the Unique Bella at Parx, where she won by a neck as the favorite, is entered back in the Skipat. She won the Flashy Lady last September at Remington Park for previous trainer Brad Cox.
Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Joy’s Rocket is a multiple stakes winner that is 0-for-5 this year with three seconds, beaten a neck in two of them, including the Jan. 22 American Beauty at Oaklawn Park. Other seconds have come in the seven-furlong Raven Run (G2) last fall at Keeneland in her season finale, and a six-furlong optional claimer last out April 30.
“She has yet to win a race this year but has run multiple seconds in quality races,” Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said.
Stud Los Leones’ Cheetara (CHI) is entered to make her Maryland debut in the Skipat. A Group 2 winner in her native Chile, the 5-year-old mare set the pace before tiring to third in the April 30 Roxelana over a muddy Churchill Downs main track. She has raced seven times in the U.S. with three wins at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth.
“I think her heart is the biggest asset that she has. She shows that in every race she runs,” trainer Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Correas IV said. “She has talent. I think she’s going to be much, much better [this] year.”
Oxana, fourth to Cilla in the Prioress; Time Limit, winner of the Jan. 29 What a Summer at Laurel; and multiple stakes-placed Glory Dia round out the field.
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
Photo: Street Lute winning the Wide Country at Laurel Park. (Maryland Jockey Club)
