Kudos, a MSW gelding, died on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., announced president and founder Michael Blowen.
The 26-year-old bay Thoroughbred (Kris S.–Souq, by Damascus) was found dead in his paddock during late-afternoon feeding. A reason for his death is unknown at this time. Necropsy results are pending to get an accurate cause of death. Bred and owned by longtime Old Friends supporters, Jerry and Ann Moss, Kudos was foaled in Kentucky on Apr. 17, 1997.
Trained by Richard Mandella his entire career, Kudos began racing in 1999, but did not win his first race until his eighth career start as a 4-year-old in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita on Mar. 17, 2001. He then won his next three consecutive races, two allowance races and the Jim Murray Memorial H. at Hollywood Park for his first stakes victory.
In 2002, he won two more stakes races–the San Marino H. at Santa Anita, and the GI Oaklawn H., which was his first-graded stakes win and the biggest win of his career. In that race, he came back from 15 lengths to win by 4 3/4 lengths.
As a 6-year-old in 2003, he won the GII Californian S., while finishing second in the GII San Pasqual H., and third in the GI Santa Anita H., the GI Oaklawn H., the race he won the previous year, and the GI Hollywood Gold Cup, his final race.
Kudos retired with seven wins, five seconds, four thirds, and $1,238,935 in earnings in 24 career starts. In 2006, the Mosses donated Kudos to Old Friends for his retirement. He was the second horse they retired to Old Friends; the first was Ruhlmann.
“Kudos was one of our first stars and enchanted us for nearly 17 years,” said Blowen. “He was a great symbol of our growth. I can't thank Jerry and Ann and (racing manager) Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs enough for allowing us to spend all this time with their treasure.”
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