5-year-old gelding Give Me the Lute set a blistering fast pace, opened up on the competition turning for home, and held off a late challenge from race-favorite Brandothebartender to pick up his first career stakes victory in Saturday's feature at Golden Gate Fields in Berkley, Calif., the $50,000 Albany Stakes at five furlongs on turf for 3-year-olds and upward.
Give Me the Lute, who went 21.01 and 44.28 for the first two quarter-mile splits, stopped the clock for five panels in a swift 56.26 seconds. The son of Midnight Lute was ridden to victory by Irving Orozco. Winner trainer Andy Mathis picked up his third consecutive Albany Stakes win in Saturday's marquee race, having won the 2019 and 2020 editions with Mike Tiznow.
4-5 favorite Brandothebartender, winner of the Crystal Water and Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita earlier this year, sat at the back of the field before producing a fast rally in the final furlong to complete the exacta. Bettor Trip Nick checked in third. Give Me the Lute paid $6.60 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.20 to win. Brandothebartender returned $3.00 to place and $2.20 to show while Bettor Trip Nick paid $2.60 to show.
Give Me the Lute, sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, was bred in California by Gary Barber. He is now owned by Rod and Wendy Hogan, who claimed Give Me the Lute for $80,000 at Del Mar in 2019. With the Albany Stakes win, Give Me the Lute holds a lifetime record of five wins, two seconds, and two third-place finishes, with career earnings of just shy of $180,000.
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