Midnight Lute is no stranger to the Sprint winner's circle (Charles Pravata/Horsephotos.com)

MIDNIGHT LUTE's (Real Quiet) explosive 4 3/4-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) was one of the highlights of a soggy day at Monmouth Park in 2007. Fast forward one year to Santa Anita, and the story was not the way Midnight Lute successfully defended his title Saturday but how. Since winning the Sprint a year ago, Midnight Lute had run just twice, finishing second in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) a month after his Breeders' Cup win, then finishing 10th in the Pat O'Brien H. (G1) at Del Mar on August 24, a race where he severely grabbed a quarter. Forced to sit on the sidelines and missing an intended start in the Vosburgh S. (G1), doubts were cast on Midnight Lute's eventual participation in this year's Sprint.

Working up a storm in the weeks leading up to the Sprint, sometimes in track record time, the sporadic racing and infirmities appeared not to have phased Midnight Lute, who turned in a performance fans have become accustomed to seeing. Breaking last of eight, Midnight Lute steadily made up position down the backside, circled the field turning for home, and drew off for an authoritative 1 3/4-length victory in the $1,832,000 heat, completing six furlongs on the Pro-Ride in 1:07. Giving jockey Garrett Gomez his third Breeders' Cup winner of the day and his fourth for the weekend, Midnight Lute returned $7.40, $5 and $3.20 as the 5-2 second choice. The $1 exotics came back $23.80 (exacta), $62.50 (trifecta) and $242.30 (4-9-2-7 superfecta).

First Defence (Unbridled's Song) was out quickly to set an opening quarter of :21 1/5, but soon yielded to 5-1 third choice Fatal Bullet (Red Bullet), who opened up 1 1/2 lengths through a half in :43 4/5 and was still on top by the same margin in deep stretch. Midnight Lute, however, began motoring home down the middle of the track and proved much the best. Meanwhile, 2-1 favorite Street Boss (Street Cry [Ire]), who saved ground along the inside during the early stages, swung out for his bid turning for home but could not match strides with the winner. He finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Fatal Bullet, who returned $6.60 and $3.80. Street Boss paid $2.40.

Midnight Lute won the Sprint off just one race this season (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com)

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Weitman Performances, Midnight Lute was voted champion sprinter following his tour de force in last year's Sprint. Midnight Lute also claims victories in the 2007 Forego S. (G1) and 2006 Perryville S. (G3). With this unprecedented second Sprint victory, Midnight Lute now holds a record of 13-6-3-1 and earnings of $2,690,600.

"Winning this race twice shows what a great horse he really is," trainer Bob Baffert said. "He is a freak. He had a hock injury after he won last year, and we thought we were going to have to retire him.

"We took the blinkers off. He is getting old and he doesn't need blinkers. I've always been bragging on him, but today he showed what a great horse he is. I've never seen a horse like this. He's the best horse I've ever trained."

"He actually settled better without the blinkers on, and I had to ask him to stay up with the pace" Gomez commented. "He waited on my commands, which has been unlike him, even last year in the Sprint, which makes him that much better. After he went past the wire, his ears went up and he began looking at everything. He enjoyed himself, taking it all in like an old pro."