2013 Kentucky Derby contenders: Mylute
Mylute has yet to win a graded stakes race but his second place finish in the Louisiana Derby was enough to earn him a place in this year’s Kentucky Derby field.
Rob Carr
Stallion Profile: Midnight Lute
Typically, big time sires will have one, maybe two top end runners in any given year on the Road to the Roses. Maybe they're lucky and have a filly that's gunning for the Oaks. If your first crop is doing that, you're unbelievable. And Midnight Lute, with his first crop turning 3 this year, has done just that: He's got a Derby starter and a serious contender in the Kentucky Oaks.
Sire: Midnight Lute
Dam: Stage Stop
Damsire: Valid Expectations
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Jockey: Rosie Napravnik
Owners: GoldMark Farm & Whisper Hill Farm
Record: 9-2-3-2
Earnings: $417,695
Notable Races: 2nd, G2-Louisiana Derby; 7th, G2-Risen Star; 3rd, G3-Delta Downs Jackpot; 5th, G2-Arlington Washington Futurity
Positives: He ran by far the best race of his carer when he finished second by a neck to Revolutionary in the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds on March 30 and he’s got one of the best jockeys in the game, Rosie Napravnik, in the iron for the biggest race of his career. Additionally, Mylue has displayed a variety of running styles over the course of his career; he’s closed from the rear of the field (Louisiana Derby) and he also stalked the pace (Risen Star and allowance race at the Fair Grounds). With his inside draw (post position #6), Napravnik should be able to decide fairly quickly whether she wants to rate this colt towards the rear of the field or attempt to race closer to the front.
Negatives: There’s a legitimate question as to how far this colt really wants to run. He looked like he would go right by Revolutionary about midway in the stretch drive of the Louisiana Derby but he appeared to flatten out a bit in the final furlong. His sire, MIdnight Lute, was a two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion but he’s shown an ability to produce horses that win at longer distances. The female side of the pedigree is a bit more of a question mark stamina-wise. His damsire, Valid Expectations, produces offspring with an average winning distance of just 6.2 furlongs. Now, Mylute has already outrun those numbers, but you have to wonder where his limit is.
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