The Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic is the highlight of Sunday’s stakes-filled card at Del Mar, but the the horse who had the track buzzing on Monday morning was 2007 sprint champion Midnight Lute, who could make his long-awaited return on the undercard in the Grade 2, $300,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap.

Midnight Lute came out just after the renovation break and turned in a sensational work, going five furlongs in 58.20 seconds and doing it effortlessly under jockey Amir Cedeno. Midnight Lute’s trainer, Bob Baffert, said he was still undecided whether to run here or head to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Forego Handicap on Aug. 30, but conceded “what I saw today was what I wanted to see.”

“He does things so easy,” Baffert said as Midnight Lute galloped out; Baffert had him going out six furlongs in 1:10.60. “He looked pretty darn good to me. He just floats. He’s freaking incredible. He had some little foot issues last week after he was shod, but he’s fine.

“The plane for Saratoga leaves Wednesday morning, so I don’t have to decide until then.”

Both the O’Brien and Forego are at seven furlongs. Midnight Lute won the Forego last year as his final prep for a subsequent victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He has not raced since finishing second in the Cigar Mile last November.

Pacific Classic horses have final prep

Student Council, who won last year’s Pacific Classic, turned up for a defense of his title with a half-mile work in 49.89 seconds on Monday for trainer Steve Asmussen on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. He was scheduled to fly here on Tuesday.

Also at Saratoga, but on the main track, Out of Control zipped five furlongs in 1:00.12, the best time of 22 at the distance, for trainer Bobby Frankel.

At Churchill Downs, Go Between breezed a half-mile in 48.20 seconds for trainer Bill Mott.

And here at Del Mar, Mostacolli Mort worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 for trainer Julio Canani.

Those four are part of a prospective field of 12 that also includes Awesome Gem, Barcola, Delosvientos, Mast Track, McCann’s Mojave, Surf Cat, Well Armed, and Zappa. Post positions will be drawn Wednesday night at a party at a local hotel.
(Source: NTRA)