EL CAJON STAKES

On an afternoon when stablemate and Triple Crown champion American Pharoah stunningly lost in the $1.6 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga in New York, Gimme Da Lute salvaged a small amount of success for the barn of trainer Bob Baffert with a hard-earned triumph Saturday in the featured $100,000 El Cajon Stakes for three-year-olds at Del Mar.

In a three-way battle down the stretch, Gimme Da Lute, the 1-5 favorite under jockey Martin Garcia, prevailed by a half-length over Fame and Power, also trained by Baffert and piloted by Rafael Bejarano. Desert Dynamo was third, a neck behind the runner-up under Flavien Prat. Completing the field as a distant fourth was Thanksgiving Day. Withdrawn from the original line-up were Iron Fist and Rocko’s Wheel.

Prat claimed foul against the winner for alleged interference in the stretch, but the stewards disallowed the claim after viewing the race replays.

Gimme Da Lute, owned and bred by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, is a son of Midnight Lute. The victory was his sixth in nine starts and fourth consecutive added-money triumph. First money of $60,000 increased the colt’s earnings to $637,560. Previously this summer, he won the Affirmed Stakes, the Los Alamitos Derby and the Real Good Deal stakes.

Gimme Da Lute ran the one mile on the main track in 1:35.79 and returned $2.40 and $2.10. Fame and Power paid $2.60. There was no show wagering because of the small field.

There were two perfect tickets in the Pick Six and each paid $50,065.80.