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Lewis Michael roars home in Pat O'Brien Frank Calabrese's homebred LEWIS MICHAEL (Rahy) was a proven synthetic horse entering the $297,500 Pat O'Brien H. (G2) at Del Mar on Sunday, but few could have expected his breakout effort in this one, drawing off to a comprehensive score under Rene Douglas. Even more surprising was the 10th-place finish by champion sprinter and 4-5 favorite Midnight Lute (Real Quiet), who was never in contention in his 2008 debut. The Wayne Catalano-trained Lewis Michael was well positioned behind early leader Barbecue Eddie (Stormy Atlantic), who carved out splits of :22 3/5, :45 and 1:08 3/5 for the opening six panels, prior to putting in his devastating run. The winner stopped the teletimer in a track mark 1:21 for seven-eighths on the Polytrack while 2 3/4 lengths clear at the line. Lewis Michael had to survive a stewards' inquiry, however, because Barbecue Eddie steadied in his wake en route to finishing third. The stewards decided to allow the result to stand, determining that both runners shared responsibility for the incident. "My horse wasn't swerving," Douglas said. "That other horse (Barbecue Eddie) was coming out. He was coming out. At one point he was right on my hip. He hit me. Other than that bit of business, we had a perfect trip." "Everything went perfect, the whole plan," said the Chicago-based Catalano, who was winning with his first-ever runner at Del Mar. "It's great when a plan comes together." Leaving the gate as the 8-1 fourth choice, Lewis Michael paid $19.20, $9 and $5.80 while spearheading the $1 exotics: $50 exacta, $438.90 trifecta and $1,671.20 superfecta (4-2-6-8). Rebellion (GB) (Mozart [Ire]) was last after the opening half-mile but closed well to earn the place as the 6-1 third choice, worth $7.20 and $5.40. It was a neck back to Barbecue Eddie in third, who was a nose in front of 3-1 second choice In Summation (Put It Back). Show gave back $5.40 for the 14-1 shot. Hurry Up Austin (Lake Austin) was a head back in fifth and trailed by Tall Texan (Point Given), Arson Squad (Brahms), Doppio (Gentlemen [Arg]), Decado (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), Midnight Lute, How's Your Halo (Halo's Image) and Hewitts (Concerto). "We never had a chance to run," said Jim Barnes, assistant to Midnight Lute's trainer Bob Baffert. "Every time he tried to go anywhere, he was in behind horses and nowhere to go. He broke a little awkwardly, and maybe that compromised his chances of getting a better position." Lewis Michael notched his second Grade 2 win in here, following a triumph in the Washington Park H. (G2) last summer. From a 22-7-6-2 career line, the impressive winner has now boosted his bankroll to $811,714. The five-year-old owns placings in the Commonwealth S. (G2), Peter Pan S. (G2), Perryville S. (G3), Hanshin Cup H. (G3) and the Tropical Park Derby (G3). In his last venture to the Golden State, the bay was beaten less than two lengths in fourth in the Goodwood S. (G1) as the favorite. Bred in the Bluegrass State, Lewis Michael hails from the classy, multiple stakes-winning mare Justenuffheart (Broad Brush) and counts champion Dreaming of Anna as a full sister. He has an unnamed two-year-old half-sister by Unbridled's Song, an unnamed yearling half-sister by Giant's Causeway and a 2008 half-brother by Storm Cat. His 13-year-old dam is a half-sister to champion Kitten's Joy (El Prado [Ire]) and multiple Grade 1 victress Precious Kitten (Catienus). Ironically, Lewis Michael has now secured an automatic spot in the starting gate for the October 25 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita, but his primary objective is instead the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
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