By DRF.com
ALBANY, Calif. (June 12, 2021) – When an expected pace duel didn’t materialize, Give Me the Lute ($6.60) cruised to a big lead in the $66,800 Albany and held off fast-finishing favorite Brandothebartender on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields to give trainer Andy Mathis his third straight victory in the race and Cal-breds a sweep of the top three spots.
Give Me the Lute broke sharply with potential pace rivals Bettor Trip Nick and Brandothebartender, but quickly took command. Bettor Trip Nick, who had been on the lead in his past two sprints, wasn’t quick enough to match Give Me the Lute and took up just a bit approaching the half-mile pole.
Brandothebartender was last down the backstretch and ran out of room after flying through the stretch, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Give Me the Lute who clocked 56.26 for the five-furlong turf race.
Give Me the Lute is by Boisterous, out of the Midnight Lute mare Steal the Lute, was bred by Gary Barber, is owned by Roderick and Wendy Hogan and is trained by Andy Mathis. He has five wins in 12 starts and earnings of $189,323.
Brandothebartender rallied to finish second and Bettor Trip Nick was third in the field of eight.
“There’s no room for mistakes at five furlongs,” Mathis said. “It’s not so much having speed as avoiding potential trouble. It’s a different type of race.”
Mathis won the past two editions with Mikes Tiznow in consecutive starts a year apart, so Give Me the Lute’s seven-month layoff wasn’t a concern for Mathis.
He is now 3 for 3 at the distance at Golden Gate Fields and simply loves the course as much as the distance.
Mathis said he told jockey Irving Orozco “to let him go” from the gate, and Orozco did just that with Exhalting sitting second a head behind through a 21.01 opening quarter.
Orozco didn’t have to urge Give Me the Lute, who began to open up on the turn and still hadn’t really asked him as he pulled 2 1/2 lengths clear at the eighth pole.
Brandothebartender came flying but couldn’t get up. Bettor Trip Nick was a solid third another 3 1/2 lengths back.
“I’m glad the trophy is staying in our barn,” said Mathis, who claimed Give Me the Lute for Rod and Wendy Hogan for $80,000 at Del Mar in 2019.